Robbers hits Allegro's Billybob's

An unarmed man stole $40 from a cash register at Allegro Pizza Sunday night at 40th and Spruce streets, cashier Carlos Munoz said. The same suspect took $600 from the cash register at Billybob's late last month, according to Tim Einsig, a Billybob's employee. And last night at about 9:39 p.m., University Police responded to a call that two black males in green army jackets were casing Billybob's for another robbery. On Sunday night, after ordering a soda, the man reached over the high, formica counter at Allegro's and snatched $40 from the opened cash register at approximately 9 p.m., Munoz said. Munoz slammed the cash drawer shut as the man grabbed at the money, cutting his own finger in the process, he said. As a result of this quick action, the man was only able to take $40 from the register before leaving the restaurant and fleeing south on 40th Street. Another Allegro's employee, who was making a milkshake at the time, saw the incident and threw the silver cup he was holding at the man, Munoz said, hitting him in the head as he pushed the restaurant's inner doors open. Munoz said the employee chased the thief until he reached 40th and Pine streets. Allegro's owner Joseph Scarpa chose not to report the incident to either University Police or Philadelphia Police. "Nobody got hurt. Nothing happened," Scarpa said, refusing further comment on the incident. Across the street at Billybob's, Manager John Kelley said a man used the same maneuver to steal from his restaurant at 1:40 a.m. on October 30. Einsig, who worked the cash register at Billybob's the night of the theft, said the man brought two cups of soda to the register and handed him a crumpled bill to pay for the drinks. While Einsig unfolded the bill, he said, the thief reached into the cash register and grabbed two handfuls of $10 and $20 bills, totaling more than $600. With money in hand, he ran from the store, falling to the ground before reaching the restaurant's doors, Einsig said. The suspect was able to escape without arrest. According to Kelley, the man had visited Billybob's earlier that same night. Security cameras at Billybob's captured the incident on video. Billybob's reported the incident to Southwest Detectives and gave them the videotapes of the incident, Kelley said. In the aftermath of the theft, Billybob's has taken several steps to make the 24-hour eatery a safer place, Kelley said. Now the restaurant's cash register never holds more than $60, he said. Kelley also said he ordered another light that he will mount outside his building. He added that he has asked the University Police to patrol the block more often. "We're out for the safety of the people, not just the students," Kelley said. He also said he employs four security guards at Billybob's on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights to prevent thefts and fights. Most patrons at Allegro's yesterday were unaware of Sunday night's theft and said they would not stay away from the restaurant despite increased safety concerns. "I thought it was a relatively safe place, until now," said Julie George, a senior at Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science.