A normal delivery turned out to be a frightening robbery for a pizza man in Mandeville, Manchester last Friday.

Information reaching The Star is that, men called a fast-food outlet and ordered pizza and drinks. Instead of paying after the order was taken to them, they robbed the delivery man at gunpoint.

A supervisor at the fast-food restaurant, speaking on condition of anonymity, corroborated the story. "It (the robbery) took place about 2 p.m. when someone called and requested that a delivery be made," she said. "After the delivery guy went to the location, he saw five men, three of them had guns. They took three pizzas, two 2 litre sodas, the delivery guy's cellphone and J$8,200 and US$15 he had on him."

The value of the stolen food was $3,450. The food courier was not hurt however.

Sick leave

A woman constable at the Mandeville Police Station was unaware of the incident saying the persons who were on duty on the weekend were not in to confirm or deny it. Additionally, the Constabulary Communication Network's officer for the station could not be reached as she was said to be on sick leave.

The supervisor said the person who made the order used the name of one of the restaurant's loyal customers, with whom they had never had any problems. The customer usually has his deliveries made near where the robbery occurred.

She said it was the third time, since working at the fast-food outlet, that such an incident occurred. In two separate incidents last year, the company's two motorcycles, cash and pizzas were taken when two delivery guys were robbed. She said the robbers called in the orders and then robbed the couriers when they showed up.

Rumours also circulated that another delivery guy, employed to another Mandeville-based restaurant was robbed on Saturday. It is said that persons called the restaurant and ordered a drop-off then robbed him when he showed up. Attempts to contact the restaurant yesterday were unsuccessful.