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Pizza Hut Employees Shaken up After Botched Gunpoint Robbery

The attempted robbery occurred late Friday night in Cuyahoga Falls.

At 11:52 p.m. Friday, a handful of Pizza Hut employees got the scare of a lifetime when a pair of men sprinted up and tried to rob their business. 

According to a Cuyahoga Falls Police press release, a manager and two employees were taking a cigarette break outside of the pizza shop – located at 2893 State Rd. – as the robbers approached. 

One of the employees was grabbed around the neck from behind by one of the men and was ordered to get down on the ground.

Police reported one of the men was holding a silver handgun.

Thinking quickly, the manager ran into Pizza Hut and locked the door behind her, leaving the employees and robbers outside.

The robbers demanded to be let into the rear door, but fled after employees said they didn’t have a key.

According to police, the suspects were black, in their late teens to early twenties and wore bandanas over their faces.

No one was injured and nothing was stolen from the business during the botched robbery attempt.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cuyahoga Falls Police Detective Bureau at 330-971-8334.

John McMillan November 24, 2012 at 05:13 pm
You threw your employees under the bus for the safety of Pizza Hut's cash register? That's what it sounds like...thanks a bunch! Glad you're not my boss...
THOMAS KANE November 24, 2012 at 05:43 pm
its hard too say what is going in your mind under this kind of pressure.When you hear only the pounding of your own heartbeat and nothing else.Believe me ,I know Ive had a 45cal. shoved in my face before and your life in some fool`s hands.All you think is how too survive this.Everybody handles this differently.Some can be trained for yearsthen freeze like ice when it happens.I GIVE her credit for doing something as her actions eventually resulting in the thugs leaving.who knows what wouldve happen otherwize.Bottom line nobody got shot, hurt.theives didnt get adime .Inlaw enforcement,we call that a good day.I say give her a medal.even if it is policy too secure the office. The result was still the same.
shelley ely November 24, 2012 at 06:09 pm
I think I would have chose my employees before the store. Why are all employees out at same time taking a smoke break??? Maybe better safety procedures will be put in place after this. Thank god no one was hurt.
Beth Badzik-Powell November 24, 2012 at 06:14 pm
Ditto on that!
Chuck Pope November 24, 2012 at 06:31 pm
I can agree to a point, but when panic sets in, people react. Honestly, I may have done the same thing, so I can't judge the manager. Also, someone needed to hit the alarm and call for help.
Earl Elevant November 24, 2012 at 07:56 pm
This is like a bad 80s movie:
Big greed wants the land the small business owner has for a gigantic development. Big greed sends people in to help "persuade" the small business owner to sell. Big greed's minions fail. Next, we need Jean Claude Van Damme or the ghost of Patrick Swayze to come in and save the day by fighting big greed and exposing their corruption. Then, it will all end with a freeze-frame of everyone high-fiving over an upbeat soundtrack, probably by Kenny Loggins.
Mark Worrell November 25, 2012 at 12:12 am
They might have all been murdered inside, a not rare occurrence. I support the manager in this instance simply because the results demonstrate it was a correct action.
Jackie November 25, 2012 at 01:50 am
My husband and I agree and was just about to write the same thing.
Scott Gatrell November 25, 2012 at 04:27 am
Really, I was a pizza chain manager for 10yrs. For the two big chains. The entire crew outside the store smoking at 11:30pm???? Violation of every security and conduct policy I have ever seen. The manager and staff put themselves at risk by not following policy. With regard to the robbery attempt being in the Falls, tis the season, pizza stores are always at risk this time of the year. Especially when the store is located on a street that leads directly into Akron from 2 different directions. Conspiracy to scare away land owner???? Get real! More like bad people robbing a little further up the street from normal. Hey Earl, who killed JFK???
Earl Elevant November 25, 2012 at 05:43 am
That would be Oliver Stone who killed JFK.
Some people couldn't have a sense of humor if it snuck up behind them and sprayed them with a flower from their lapel.
John McMillan November 25, 2012 at 04:48 pm
Shelley, that is a good question: why were all employees outside smoking? Another bad decision by the manager that added to the danger of the situation. Someone wasn't paying attention during management training? It was extremely lucky that no one was injured, or worse.
John McMillan November 25, 2012 at 04:49 pm
LOL glad to see your imagination has not totally shut down following the election, Earl!
John McMillan November 25, 2012 at 04:52 pm
Yes they could have all been murdered, which is why the entire responsibility for this event is on the shoulders of the "manager." Nonsense to support the manager in this case, the results demonstrate nothing, except how lucky they were.
John McMillan November 25, 2012 at 04:55 pm
THANK YOU Scott, for explaining why the responsibility is on management for the safety of its employees. I would think that this manager would at least be written up for this episode. Very poor judgment on his/her part.
Bones Ak November 26, 2012 at 01:17 am
sad this city was not like this 5 to 10 years ago robbery's are up and so are home break ins that should be the real topic here
James November 26, 2012 at 03:20 am
Sounds like Scott is assuming the black robbers are from Akron..AMHA housing is right around the corner from the Pizza Hut in question. Jim
Scott Gatrell November 29, 2012 at 05:55 pm
Hi James, you are correct. Also one on Portage Trail Ext. as well as one in North Hill near Howard st. This does not mean that the robbers are or are not from one of these areas though. We won't know unless they are caught. I wouldn't assume they are from AMHA.

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Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Nolan Thrice June 18, 2013 at 10:55 am
You didn't know what? Oh, how to read a calendar. But, your stupidity/illiteracy is the media'sRead More fault. Okay m0ron.
dean alexander June 18, 2013 at 09:47 pm
blame the media, how silly, google the information stop being so lazy
Adam C. Miller June 18, 2013 at 05:19 pm
A lot of residents in Cuyahoga Falls do not even display flags.
dean alexander June 18, 2013 at 09:46 pm
Just amazes me that people can't take responsibility, blame everyone else because they are too lazyRead More to be aware of what is going on, if you are that concerned about flag day, then you would think you would know when it is or just google it, all the information is available, it is so sad how our country has the blame everyone else attitude, wake up and take personal responsibility
Geoffrey Watson June 18, 2013 at 10:32 pm
Nolan,Why should a person even have to check a calendar to see when a holiday is. The media blastsRead More relentlessly on everything else that doesn't amount to a hill of beans. Yet when it comes to flying the flag the are MUM. That is what I am talking about. Like Dean said. Maybe peoplw don't display flags because they didn't know. Dean, what's the media for, if not getting the word out? Are they there to just sit on their butts and let people wonder what they really do? Talk about being responsible, I think the media should be responsible for getting the word out. They need to do something for their pay.
Richard Darmstadt June 10, 2013 at 05:02 pm
I would like to know where the person who wrote this blog got their information. AA is not aRead More religious cult or a cult of any sort. Members of AA have been helping other alcoholics since 1935. Medical science has proved that alcoholism is a disease with NO cure. AA is there to offer a helping hand.
Laura Tompkins June 11, 2013 at 06:39 pm
Thank you Gail! This is just one of many, many stories. Convicted felons are routinely recruited toRead More 12 step cults. They have to go there, healthy people do not stay in this dangerous cult for long! ; ) http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-cult_a0.html
dean alexander June 18, 2013 at 09:50 pm
The health department really needs to check the place, filthy, selling reheated food, which isRead More illegal, plaster falling from ceiling over food prep table, the list goes on and on
wmfr June 5, 2013 at 10:04 pm
What's your point, DICK? You are posting a sarcastic question and clearly don't understand projectsRead More like PC and how cities work with builders. C'mon DICK, write a legitimate question and quit belly aching DICK.
Sumco Res June 5, 2013 at 10:18 pm
Christine - you somehow missed the detail that the property has been sold to Stark? The ball is inRead More his court now.
Nolan Thrice June 6, 2013 at 11:33 am
Any reason you couldn't pick up the phone and make a phone call and ask for yourself? Oh, that'sRead More too much hard work. Got it.
Sweet Guy #1
mmlodzik June 1, 2013 at 01:43 pm
We were very fortunate to have the Humane Society take them. They should be available for adoptionRead More soon. I am just deeply saddened that people can do something like this with no concern for the dogs' welfare and to thrust that responsibility onto others who can't stand by and do nothing.
Janet Wahl June 3, 2013 at 07:33 am
Those kind of people would leave their human kids as well.
Christine June 3, 2013 at 11:27 am
I agree, this is inconsiderate and unkind. I would wish that people would not treat their animalsRead More so, but that remains a wish. However, I am thankful that something worse did not happen. At least at the park, someone was there who was kindhearted enough to take action. I shudder to think of the "other" possibilities.
John Deike (Editor) May 15, 2013 at 06:35 pm
Thanks!
Kaye Spector (Editor) May 15, 2013 at 10:53 pm
Congrats John and Jacklyn. She's adorable.
Geoffrey Watson June 1, 2013 at 10:19 pm
Congrats John. I know what you are feeling. I know when my daughter was born way back in 1975 @Read More Cuyahoga Falls General. I wanted to go out to the intersection of Broad and State Rd and shout at the top of my lungs, "I have a baby daughter" That was the greatest enjoyment and biggest trill ever!! I was a big part of the delivery. I was in the room the whole time and would not have it ant other way. Way to go John and Jaklyn!!