Real Name: Unrevealed
Aliases: None known
Wanted For: Armed Robbery
Missing Since: 1991
Case[]
Details: Police are searching for six to eight men who are responsible for at least twenty-nine pizza restaurant robberies in Vallejo and other cities in Northern California since August of 1991. The assault-style robberies typically occur between 9 and 11 pm, near closing time. This means that restaurant is usually almost empty, and the cash register is usually almost full. It is believed that the group works in rotating teams of two. The robberies usually last about two minutes.
The robbers have used specific language and terms during their robberies, such as "187" which is the penal code for murder. All involved are believed to be African-American males, wearing ski masks. They use several different weapons, including handguns, revolvers, semi-automatic weapons, and Uzi-type weapons. They also appear to know the layouts of their targets. Police believe that the men are part of a local gang nicknamed the "Romper Room Gang", but no suspects have ever been identified.
Extra Notes: The case was featured as a part of the March 4, 1992 episode.
Results: Captured. On January 3, 1992, two members of a gang were arrested for several pizza restaurant robberies. They were also arrested for several bank robberies. Several more gang members were later arrested; after they were put in jail, the pizza robberies ended. The identities of the robbers were not revealed in the update.
Rapper Andre "Mac Dre" Hicks was allegedly one of the members of the Romper Room Gang. In 1992, he was convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery and sentenced to five years in prison. He was released in 1996.
Links:
- Merchants offer reward for pizza parlor culprits
- Jailed rapper may have lived gritty lyrics too literally
- Cops nab 53 in series of robberies
- FBI Press Release mentioning the "Romper Room Gang"