ShawneeDispatch.com

Shawnee Police are investigating yet another robbery, the fourth in a little over a week involving two masked men.

The most recent robbery occurred at 4:35 p.m. Thursday at the Wendy’s on Shawnee Mission Parkway at Flint Street.

Shawnee Police Capt. Bill Hisle said two men armed with handguns demanded cash before leaving the restaurant and driving away in a red Dodge Charger.

The suspects were described as about 6 feet tall, 185 pounds, wearing dark clothing and masks, one a Ronald Regan mask. One suspect wore a trench coat.

This is the fourth robbery in the city recently involving two masked men. The first occurred Wednesday, Jan. 19, when at 4:20 p.m. two men — one armed with a gun — robbed the McDonald’s at 75th Street and Nieman Road.

At 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, two masked men attempted to rob the Target at Shawnee Mission Parkway and Maurer Road, though in this case, the clerk walked away and the men left empty-handed.

Two men wearing masks removed the drawers from two cash registers about 4 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the Shell gasoline station at 83rd Street and Kansas Highway 7. It was not clear if the men were armed in this case because they did not confront the store clerk.

Though police have no evidence that the crimes are connected, Hisle said the fast-food restaurant thefts were particularly concerning because they took place during the day.

“Like at the McDonald’s, that one’s pretty disturbing because they’re so confrontational and not afraid to go into a place when people are around,” Hisle said.

Hisle said similar robberies have occurred elsewhere in the metro recently; one in Merriam, two in Overland Park and one each in Independence, Mo., and Grandview, Mo.

While it is hard to predict where the robberies might occur, Hisle said police have taken unspecified steps to try to prevent future robberies.

Anyone with information about the robberies is asked to contact the police department at 631-2155.