One-legged bandit strikes four times

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Dayton police are searching for the one-legged man who they said has burglarized an Oregon District restaurant four nights in a row.

Franco Germano has been in business for 32 years and said he can remember just two past break-ins at his restaurant, Franco's Ristorante Italian. Now he's had four this week, all at the hands of a one-legged bandit.

He said every day since Sunday, December 7, the one-legged man in a wheelchair wheels his way through the restaurant parking lot and breaks in, hopping through the restaurant looking for things to steal.

"The first time it didn't really make me angry, Germano said. "What made me angry was the other three times in four days."

After Wednesday morning's break-in Germano added locks to the top and bottom of the door.

"But he got a rock and broke the glass," Germano said after the last crime. "So the only thing I can do right now is give him keys and tell him to help his self."

Germano said in the four burglaries, the one legged bandit has made off with cash, five bottles of wine, and destroyed a computer. Add in the repairs to the door and he estimates it's cost him more than $2000.

Germano said the crimes are threatening to take away his Christmas cheer and compassion for the disabled.

"This is the holiday season and people need money and I think they'd do anything to get money."

He's wants other other Oregon District business owners to be on the lookout for the one-legged bandit, and is thinking of adjusting his work schedule.

"I think I'm planning on working late night from now on," he said. "And if I'm not going to be here, somebody else will."