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The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office has identified possible suspects, Cpl. Robin McIntosh, sheriff's spokeswoman, said Thursday.
Just before 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, two men entered the Outback takeout area on the side of the restaurant at 20 Hatton Place. They said they were picking up an order that had been called in about 20 minutes earlier by a man who identified himself as John, according to a sheriff news release.
A 23-year-old female employee retrieved the order and told them the cost. One of the men pulled out a handgun and demanded money from the register, the release said.
As the employee put an undisclosed amount of cash in the bag with the food, the man turned the gun on a 78-year-old customer sitting nearby and demanded his wallet. When the man said he'd have to stand up to get the wallet from his pants pocket, the robbers told him to forget it.
The robbers ran away with the money and food, the release said.
They were described as black men between the ages of 30 and 45, about 6-feet-3, of medium build and with short or shaved hair. Both were wearing baggy blue jeans and lightweight, dark-black or gray windbreaker jackets.
Outback's manager declined comment, citing corporate policy. A spokeswoman for Outback could not be reached for comment.
Three other similar armed robberies have occurred on the island prior to the Outback incident:
• On Sept. 8, in the parking lot at Rum Runners Bar at Hilton Head Beach & Tennis Resort.
• On Sept. 14, at Vic's Tavern in Pineland Station.
• On Sept. 24, at Reilley's North End Pub in Port Royal Plaza.
In the Sept. 8 incident, a Rum Runners employee was robbed and assaulted as she walked to her car after closing the bar around 9:15 p.m.
The robber came up behind her, put her in a headlock and demanded money. When she refused to give him the money, he punched her repeatedly in the face before ripping her purse off her shoulder and running toward the beach. She was treated at Hilton Head Hospital.
In the Sept. 14 incident, two female employees of Vic's Tavern were robbed at gunpoint by three unidentified men around 2:30 a.m. as they walked through the parking lot after closing the bar.
One man pointed a gun in one of the women's face. She fell as she ran toward her car, dropping her wallet and cell phone, which the robbers took.
The second victim got into the passenger's seat of the woman's car. The other two robbers pointed a gun at her and demanded money. She refused, throwing a soda in the face of one of the men. The robbers grabbed her purse and ran away.
In the Sept. 24 incident, a bartender at Reilley's North End Pub was robbed at gunpoint and tied up inside the bar just after midnight.
He'd been closing the bar for the night when two men knocked at the front door, saying they wanted to buy a drink. Once inside, the men pointed handguns at the bartender and demanded money.
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Anyone with information should contact Investigator Sgt. L. Albertin at 843-842-4111, ext. 279, or the Beaufort County Dispatch Center at 843-524-2777.
