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TAYLORSVILLE - It appears a man police call the pizza robber has struck again, this time at a Pizza Hut in Taylorsville. He's targeted stores all over the valley and now -- if it's the same man -- he's getting more dangerous.
Taylorsville police say a man walked into the Pizza Hut at 1929 W. 4700 South around 11 p.m. Wednesday. He showed the clerk a handgun and demanded money. The clerk complied, and then the man left.
His actions Wednesday night were a little more aggressive than in the past robberies. Detective Shannon Bennett, with the Taylorsville Police Department, said, "He put the gun right in her face, literally inches from her face, and then threatened to do bodily harm if she didn't turn over the money."
After she emptied the cash register, the man demanded she open the safe. When she told him she didn't have the key, he grew even more agitated. Once he realized he wasn't going to get that money, he left the store and went south on foot.
Police used a K-9 unit to search for him, but he got away.
Sgt. Marni Montgomery of the Taylorsville Police Department said, "We found some areas where there were footprints. It appears to us he most likely left in a vehicle located nearby."
Investigators believe the robber could be Victor Hall, 37, who also is wanted in connection with other recent robberies in the Salt Lake Valley.
Police believe Hall was the driver during the robbery of a Papa John's at 753 E. 3300 South Saturday morning and a Sconecutter in Murray on Sunday, and the gunman who demanded money at a Little Caesar's at 880 E. 5900 South on Tuesday.
Wednesday morning, a Metro Gang detective spotted Hall and a woman standing next to two stolen vehicles at a motel near 7300 South and State Street in Midvale. Police say one vehicle was a white pickup truck seen leaving the scene of the Little Caesar's robbery Tuesday.
When police approached the two, they fled in different directions. Officers arrested the woman, 31-year-old Tamara Elfstrom. They believe she was involved in three of the robberies.
Salt Lake City police say they received a tip that Hall was at a home in the 2100 East block of Lambourne Avenue. They surrounded the home around 4 p.m. Wednesday.
A man inside the house refused to let police in to search for Hall. After a couple of hours, the occupant let officers in, but Hall was not there.
Bennett said, "We're concerned this could escalate into a more violent type of crime."
Police aren't sure why pizza stores are being targeted. The Taylorsville Police Department is increasing its patrols near pizza stores, which it says is normal procedure when it sees a trend in crimes.
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Story compiled with information from Nicole Gonzales , Shara Park and Randall Jeppesen.**
