A man was robbed Tuesday evening when he went to deliver a pizza. This is the second time in a week someone was robbed delivering a pizza at the same address.
Papa John's received a call at about 10:15 p.m. to deliver a pepperoni pizza, an all-meat pizza, 20 buffalo wings and a two-liter Sprite to a home at 435 Second Ave., SE. When the delivery driver got to the house, it appeared to be vacant, according to police reports.
The driver was getting back into his car when three black males approached him from across the street in the Kenworth Hall area, telling the driver it was their food. One black male, who's described as heavy set with short hair and is about 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall and wearing a red and white hoodie, approached the front of the car. Another black male, who was between 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 11 inches and heavyset and wore a dark blue hoodie, approached the rear of the car. A third black male with a slim build, braids or dreadlocks and a hood, approached the rear passenger side of the car, according to the police report.
The three men asked if the driver had any change on him. The delivery driver said he had one- and five-dollar bills, according to the police report.
The man near the door struck the delivery driver with his fists, and the delivery driver dropped the pizza bag.
The driver fell back into his car, put it into reverse, and drove a few blocks away, calling police.
A similar robbery took place Nov. 18, when a Geppeto's Pizza delivery driver delivered two pizzas and chicken wings to the same address. On Nov. 18, the driver got out of his car and walked to the side of the house, and saw a man at the corner of the home say, "It's over here." Then, two more men appeared and one of them tackled the driver. That driver was robbed of his money, as well as the food. Those three men were also all black men, in their early- to mid-20s, with short hair and medium builds. They took the food and ran in the direction of Kenworth Hall.
James Simmons, the manager of the Papa John's on North Center Street where the Papa John's delivery driver works, said when the driver first arrived at the house on Second Avenue, SE, on Tuesday, the driver thought the person who ordered the food was possibly at a neighboring house.
Simmons said customers are frequently not at the address given when ordering food. He said they are occasionally at a neighbor's house or across the street.
He said all of his drivers are cautioned to be careful when delivering.
The delivery driver who was robbed on Tuesday plans to still work with Papa John's, and worked Wednesday night.
Anyone with information about the robbery or the suspects is asked to call the Hickory Police Department at 328-5551.
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