South Charlotte Chipotle robbed at gunpoint

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Chipotle restaurant on Pineville-Matthews Road near Carmel Commons was robbed at gunpoint at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday.

Two men entered the south Charlotte Chipotle after closing and robbed and kidnapped five employees at gunpoint.

Mostly teenagers were working at the time and no one was injured.

"While this was a troubling incident for employees who were in the restaurant at the time, there were no injuries and we are working with law enforcement to support their investigation in any way we can, and hope the individuals involved are brought to justice," Chris Arnold, a spokesperson for Chipotle, said.

The crime happened on a busy stretch of Pineville-Matthews Road in front of Simpson's Pumpkins and Christmas Trees.

Phil Simpson, the owner, said she is surprised to hear such a violent crime happened in this part of south Charlotte.

"Unfortunately in today's society you have to be more alert with all the things going on in this nation," Simpson said. "We just try to watch people as they come in."

Channel 9 crime-mapped the area and found in the past month there have been 39 crimes within a half-mile of the Chipotle including 12 larcenies and four assaults.

Uriel Flores has lived in south Charlotte for 15 years and says Charlotte-Mecklenburg police does a great job at patrolling the area.

Flores said the robbery serves as a good reminder that crime spreads through all parts of Charlotte.

"We're not in a perfect world but we are trying to make it a better place and we need everyone's help to make it a better place," Flores said.

No arrests have been made.

Cox Media Group