Update: Batavia, North Aurora Police Compare Notes on Subway Robberies

Two local police departments are sharing information with each other about similar armed robberies in their towns.

North Aurora Police have been in contact with after two local Subway restaurants were taken at gunpoint, said North Aurora Police Lt. Scott Buziecki.

Police acknowledge some similarities about the cases, but stop short of saying the two robberies are actually related.

At about 8:09 p.m. on Monday a white male in sunglasses and a gray puffy coat robbed the Subway at 53 S. Randall Road in North Aurora. The man at an employee and demanded cash from the register.

Buziecki on Wednesday said the suspect entered and left the store through one of two public doors to the restaurant, which is located in a corner property. Police did not have information on whether the suspect fled the scene in a vehicle.

At about 8:40 p.m. on Nov. 23 a white male in sunglasses and a blue puffy coat at 13 S. Randall Road in Batavia.

The Batavia and North Aurora investigations continue.

Stay Alert

Here's how you should respond in a robbery, and what to look for before a robbery:

Employees of a store being robbed should comply with the demands of the suspect. Money or valuables can’t match the value of someone’s life and refusing to comply could illicit a violent reaction from the suspect, possibly resulting in injury or death. Most, if not all, retail-type stores likely have policies to this effect, Buzieki said.

"I would ask citizens to be aware of suspicious subjects and/or behavior in and around restaurants similar to Subway," Buziecki said in an e-mail.

A suspect preparing to rob a fast food restaurant, convenience store, gas station, or liquor store may wait until the employee or employees are alone (i.e. no customers) so they may be seen waiting around or circling the area.

This is the time when an alert employee or customer could detect a robbery that is about to happen and quickly call 911.

If officers are enroute before the robbery happens, there is a greater chance for apprehension.

"We’d rather respond, check out a suspicious person, and find that their story checks out than for someone to rationalize the suspicious behavior (i.e. “the person is probably . . . . [insert legitimate activity]”) and allow a crime to occur without intervention," Buziecki said.

Note that citizens should not approach a suspicious person, try to intervene in a crime, or put themselves in harm's way.

Just keep your eyes open and call police if what you see doesn’t add up, Buziecki said.

For a full description of the suspect in the Nov. 23 Batavia Subway robbery, click .

For a full description of the suspect in the Nov. 28 North Aurora Subway robbery, click .