Utah Crime Solvers is assisting local police in identifying the "Top Gun" bandit, responsible for 14 robberies in Salt Lake County.
The bandit - known as Top Gun because of the blue baseball cap he wears that bears the yellow embroidered title of the popular movie - began knocking off small businesses in early November.He hasn't struck since the day after Thanksgiving, when he robbed three ice cream parlors in an hour. His inactivity, though, hasn't stopped police from an intensive effort to catch him.
Police fear the robber, who is always armed with a small revolver, may hurt somebody.
"He cocks (the gun)," said Sheriff Pete Hayward. "If anybody should happend to resist, we're concerned he might shoot."
"Top Gun" is described as heavy-set, between 45 and 50, about 5 feet 10, about 200 pounds, with graying hair, blue eyes and a pot belly.
A reward is being offered by Crime Solvers for information leading to an arrest and indictment.
Editor's Note: The Deseret News, in cooperation with the Utah Council for Crime Prevention, publishes weekly accounts of unsolved crimes as part of a statewide program called Crime Solvers. Readers with information about the "Crime of the Week," or any other unsolved crime, are invited to call Crime Solvers at 964-CALL or 1-800-972-CALL. Information is passed on to local police. A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered by the council for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the criminals involved. It is not necessary to give your name when providing information.