Two robberies occurred downtown within two hours Sunday and involved similarly described suspects, but police are still investigating whether the same perpetrator committed both crimes.
A male suspect in his late 30s robbed the women's clothing boutique The Peacock, 512 State St., at approximately 11:15 a.m. Sunday. The suspect had a mustache and dark complexion and was 5'6\ to 5'8"" tall, according to the police report. He told the store clerk he had a gun and demanded money before fleeing on foot.
Shortly after, at approximately 12:40 p.m., a man robbed the Italian deli and grocery store Fraboni's, 822 Regent St. The police report stated the man was a 5'6' black male in his 30s with a mustache. He also said he had a gun and ordered the clerk to give him money before leaving on foot.
The Peacock owner Sandy Glaeve said Monday she had no comment on the robbery at her store, but Fraboni's owner Steve Fraboni said he caught the suspect at his store on security video, which he gave to police.
The man is shown on the video casing out the store, then returning later in different clothes and robbing it, Fraboni said. His employee turned over the entire contents of the till to the robber.
""The money's replaceable, but the employees aren't and they're all told that; you don't put yourself at risk,"" Fraboni said.
This is the first time a robber has targeted the store since it opened in 1971, he added. But he said he is optimistic police will be able to identify the robber from the tape.
""We're a small business, this really hurts,"" he said. ""These kids are like my family, so you feel violated.""
Madison Police spokesperson Larry Kamholtz said Monday there is no new information on the case. Sgt. Jane Stoklasa, who was the officer in charge Sunday and put the information in the police reports, said she did not know if the incidents were linked. Stoklasa allowed that given the similarity of the suspects, it is a good possibility.
""The description is similar so I would not rule it out,"" she said.
