PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) -
Portland police said they have now linked two robberies to a man who uses a 10-year-old child as his accomplice.
Officers said the first robbery happened Friday afternoon at the Pepper Box food cart at 2737 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
The victim told police that the man grabbed him from behind and that a young boy then took an undisclosed amount of money from the food car before the pair ran off.
The man and young boy committed a second crime Saturday at The Meadow, a shop that sells salts, chocolates and flowers on North Mississippi Avenue.
At about 6:30 p.m., the victim said, the two suspects entered the shop. The man grabbed the female worker, covered her mouth and pinned her arms while telling her he would hurt her if she yelled.
As the victim was being held, the 10-year-old boy went behind the counter and stole an undisclosed amount of money from the cash register.
The man and child then left the area on foot.
Police describe the adult suspect as black, 20 to 30 years old and 5'10" to 6' tall with a medium build. He wore all black clothes. The boy is described as black, about 10 years old and 4'5" to 4'8" tall. He wore a brown shirt and blue jeans during Saturday's robbery.
Anyone with information on the identity of the suspects is asked to call Detective Mike Smith at 503-823-0871 or email mike.smith@portlandoregon.gov.
Copyright 2012 KPTV (Meredith Corporation.) All rights reserved.
