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Shawnee grocery store worker mugged by group of teens

Posted at 5:19 PM, Jul 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-26 19:25:46-04

Detectives are tracking down leads in an overnight mugging of a grocery store worker by a group of teenagers.

The attack happened at the Widmer Retail Center Shawnee Mission Parkway and Pflumm Road around 2:30 a.m.

The victim, a 17-year old Hy-Vee employee, walked from the store to the patio of Sheridan's Frozen Custard during his break. There, police say, the suspects talked to the victim before punching him.

"They approached him and started talking with him and then basically demanded his wallet and phone,” Maj. Dan Tennis, a spokesman with the Shawnee Police Department, said.

Soon after, the fists flew. Investigators said the six to seven men who punched and robbed the employee were between 15 and 20 years old.

“Given the ages of these boys, I doubt they live far from that location,” Tennis said.

The victim spent almost two hours with police giving them information about the young thieves.

Shawnee police don’t believe this is part of a larger crime pattern in the city.

"A group of boys came across an opportunity and took advantage of it,” Tennis said. “I don't think that they were out looking for someone at that location to rob.”

Several surveillance cameras in the area captured the incident, helping police with leads. A team of detectives is working those leads and are confident the teens will be caught soon.

The worker suffered some bruises to his face.

If you know anything about this robbery, call police or the KC Crimestoppers Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).

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Andres Gutierrez can be reached at andres.gutierrez@kshb.com

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