Robber Scoops Up Cash at 2 Ventura Ice Cream Shops

It’s been something of a rocky road this week for Ventura’s two Baskin-Robbins stores, which were robbed on successive nights. But police are not yet ready to blame the same crook for the double scoop.

The robberies occurred Monday and Tuesday nights when a man came in, ordered a drink, then lifted his shirt to show off a gun as he demanded money.

Although the robberies were similar, police are not sure if they are related.

“I don’t know that it’s the same person,” Lt. Gary McCaskill said. “There are similarities. But all that doesn’t mean they are the same person.”

Both suspects are white men, described as fairly tall and thin, McCaskill said.

But there are differences as well. The teenage employees at one store said the robber was in his 50s, while workers in the other store said he was in his 30s.

It was shortly after 9 p.m. Monday when a man entered the Baskin-Robbins on 2853 E. Main St. and ordered a soft drink. After the clerk handed him the drink, the suspect lifted his shirt and showed a handgun tucked into his waistband. He then ordered the two employees to hand over an undisclosed amount of cash in the register, then fled through the store’s parking lot.

The other robbery occurred at the Baskin-Robbins at 1413 S. Victoria Ave. about 10:20 p.m. Tuesday.

No customers were in the store during either robbery and no employees were hurt.

Baskin-Robbins officials declined to comment on the robberies Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the incidents had no apparent effect on business. At the Main Street store, customers came and went in a steady stream Wednesday afternoon.

“I don’t feel any danger coming here or anything,” said Cody Toussau of Ventura. “It’s just an ice cream store.”

“I come here at least twice a week,” added Ventura resident Trevor Graves. “And I’ll continue to come about twice a week.”