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Pizza Delivery Armed Robberies Save Email Print
Posted: 10:43 PM May 8, 2008
Last Updated: 10:51 PM May 8, 2008
Reporter: Max Seigle



A | A | A

Peter Gorao grabs his pizzas, heading out on a delivery order from Jo Jo's pizza in Rockford. It's a trip he makes some 30 to 40 times each day. And so far, he's never had any problems. "Yeah, I feel safe. I go to a lot of the same places, customers that I know," Gorao said. But pizza delivery drivers, like Gorao, don't always enjoy a smooth delivery. On Wednesday night, a driver from this North Main Street Domino's told police that he was robbed at gunpoint on the job. The week before there was another incident at this West Side Rockford apartment complex. "It makes me on edge, knowing that I have a 7-month old daughter at home," Gorao said. To be on the safe side, Gorao programs emergency numbers on his cell phone. He also doesn't carry much cash. "Only the amount of change that's needed, so if I have that feeling like I'm going to get robbed, there's no money to be taken," Gorao said. His boss back at Jo-Jo's says it's actually a misconception that pizza delivery drivers carry lots of dough. "Nowadays with alot of transactions on credit cards, it doesn't happen," Joe Tarara, owner of Jo Jo's. But he still admits they can be an easy target, so if his drivers are feeling trouble, they should turn around. "As long as the light goes on in the house and the guy's ready to come out, we understand it's safe. If it's not, they're instructed to come back here," Tarara said. It's advise Gorao says he takes to heart every time he arrives with a pizza delivery. Along with the two recent robberies to pizza delivery drivers, 23 News has covered at least two others so far this year. Rockford Police Chief Chet Epperson calls this an ongoing battle for his department, and says robbers see these workers as prime targets to set up with a fake delivery. Chief Epperson urges pizza shops to follow many of the instructions that Jo-Jo's Pizza does, like knowing your surroundings and verifying orders with follow up calls before deliveries. As far as the robbery Wednesday night, police say a suspect was brought in for questioning. But no word yet on any charges.

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