By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — A Pizza Hut delivery man was robbed at gunpoint on East Liberty Street Saturday night.
Salisbury Police said a delivery order was initially placed for a home on Park Avenue, but the address was invalid. When a restaurant employee called back, the caller changed the location to a home on East Liberty Street.
When the delivery person arrived at the home about 10:30 p.m., police said, another vehicle pulled up beside him.
A gunman pointed a rifle at the delivery driver and yelled through the window, demanding cash and the pizza.
The unarmed man was wearing a blue sweatshirt with white letters. There was no description available for the gunman.
About $40 was taken during the incident, the report said.
Saturday’s robbery came less than two weeks after a caller phoned a taxi cab service and robbed the driver at gunpoint.
On April 10, police said a gunman climbed into the backseat of a Safety Taxi cab near West McCubbins Street and put a pistol to the driver’s head.
He took about $70, police said.
Salisbury Police Capt. Shelia Lingle said the two incidents don’t appear related.
“There’s no indication that that’s the same folks,” Lingle said.
Pizza delivery robberies aren’t uncommon in Salisbury.
Last March a Papa John’s Pizza delivery driver was robbed at gunpoint.
The gunman stole three pizzas, the man’s iPhone and about $45.
In 2010, a Pizza Hut driver was shot in the leg as he attempted to flee from a robber on North Cedar Street.
In most cases, like Saturday night, police said, they’re called well after the incident.
Salisbury Police Capt. Melanie Thompson said sometimes drivers call their managers first or even drive back to the restaurant.
“It would be a lot more helpful if they called us from the scene,” Thompson said.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact the Salisbury Police Department at 704-638-5333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.