There's been three armed robberies in Grand Traverse county in recent weeks
GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY -- UPDATE -- Traverse City police seized a car Wednesday afternoon and arrested its owner, 26-year-old Burdell Riley from Traverse City. Riley and 19-year-old Jordan Lentz will be charged Friday morning.
Riley and Lentz, along with another 16-year-old are accused of robbing a man at gunpoint Tuesday night. The 16-year-old involved had an emergency probation violation and is in detention indefinitely. He has not been charged yet.
This is video you'll see only on 7&4 news: police searching for the gun and third suspect after that robbery near open space.
The victim says three men approached him in his car in the parking lot near the volleyball courts and asked to borrow his cell phone. When he stepped out of the vehicle they pointed a gun at him and demanded money.
All three suspects have now been arrested. This is the third armed robbery in Grand Traverse county in recent weeks.
I asked authorities why there's an increase in armed robberies. Michigan State Police Lieutenant William Elliott said there could be a number of reasons.
"The poor economy that we're now facing...There are people who are somewhat desperate and they're willing to do some things that maybe they might not normally do," said Elliott.
Monday night, two employees of the Lochen Wood Mini Golf and Ice Cream Shop were robbed at gunpoint and forced to shell out cash. 23-year-old Thurston Wayne Keinonen has been arrested and charged in that case.
The owner of the golf course says many people think of Traverse City as a safe area.
"For people that grew up in Metro Detroit, locking the doors and bars on the windows is the standard," said Buffum. "Up here its always been much more laid-back and more trusting."
The Interlochen E-Z Mart was also robbed last month. One E-Z Mart employee says she's been afraid to go to work.
Traverse City police say they are working with state police and the sheriff's office to have quicker response time to help crack down on these crimes.
"It helps to be able to get to something violent in nature fast because you can diffuse the violence," said Traverse City Police Captain Steve Morgan. "You can apprehend the suspects before they go on to commit additional crimes of violence, which these people are prone to do."
