A pair of men running a three-card monte game Thursday afternoon in the parking lot of the Petro Truck Stop on Interstate 44 robbed two truck drivers of $5,300, according to a Joplin police report.
Cpl. Chuck Niess said an officer was called to the truck stop in midafternoon about two strong-arm robberies that had taken place within half an hour.
The first victim, of Ashley, Neb., told the officer that he was approached by a group of men who were playing cards on the lot near his truck.
“They asked him to play, but he had to show them some money first,” Niess said.
He said the driver went inside the truck stop and withdrew $300 cash from an ATM to join in the game. He complained to the officer that they took the money from him, but never let him play, even when he threatened to go call police.
Niess said a second truck driver, of East Peoria, Ill., reported being approached in a similar manner at the same location a short time later. That driver was returning to the game with $5,000 in hand, when he noticed that it was three-card monte, an old swindler’s game involving the palming of a card, that the men were playing.
“He didn’t want any part of that,” Niess said. “But when he turned to leave, one of them grabbed him and held him while the other grabbed his money.”
The second driver told police that he fought with the two men and chased them across the parking lot, but they managed to give him the slip.
The second driver described one of them as being about 30 years old, with a face that seemed older. He described the other as about 20 and skinny.
Car description
Police Cpl. Chuck Niess said an officer determined that the robbers might have left the truck stop in a black Chevrolet.
Local News
Drivers lured to card game, robbed at truck stop
- Local News
-
-
Missouri Prairie Foundation plans BioBlitz for June 1-2 at prairies in Barton, Vernon counties
The Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Denison and Lattner prairies in Vernon and Barton counties will be the focus on Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and 2, of the fourth annual Prairie BioBlitz.
-
Stream sampling in Jasper County finds elevated levels of E. coli
Stream sampling conducted just before the Memorial Day weekend by the Jasper County Health Department found elevated levels of E. coli in every stream and river tested. Twenty-one sites were tested on May 22, following heavy rains earlier in the week.
-
Families, friends invited to honor veterans with flags this weekend
Small lengths of plastic pipe have been installed behind the headstones of veterans graves in Joplin cemeteries so that every veteran will have a flag on Memorial Day.
-
Mike Pound: Writing column like making pasta
It’s Friday afternoon as I’m typing this and my wife is worried. She’s not worried about what I’m typing; she gave up worrying about that a long time ago. Besides, my wife knows that even though I’m typing right now, I likely don’t have a clue what I’m writing.
-
Joplin to New Orleans bike tour to raise money for disaster victims
Louis Niewald will travel 800 miles on a bicycle next month, pedaling from Joplin to New Orleans. He’ll have a lot to think about along the way. Niewald was returning to Joplin on May 22, 2011, when sirens sounded and an EF-5 tornado began grinding its way across the city.
-
Joplin photo rescue effort gears up to help Moore storm victims
A photo rescue operation based in Carthage that helped salvage and return thousands of pictures after the 2011 tornado in Joplin is reaching out to storm victims in Moore, Okla.
-
Events, activities to honor veterans planned in Joplin area on Monday
No Memorial Day ceremonies are planned at Joplin cemeteries this year or at Mount Hope Cemetery in Webb City, but a number of other events are scheduled in cities around the region.
-
Area pools ready for plunge; Schifferdecker opening still to be announced
Though this week’s mild temperatures may not signal swim season, most area pools are ready anyway. And, the mercury should rise a little this weekend to help those anxious to dive in. Highs will be in the low 80s today and Sunday. There is a chance for isolated thunderstorms on Monday, but the thermometer should hit 82 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
-
Joplin School Board decision could take up to two weeks; Turner remains on paid leave
It could take up two weeks for the Joplin Board of Education to decide whether Randy Turner’s teaching contract should be terminated, the school district’s attorney, John Nicholas, said Friday.
-
Joplin insurance agent seeks donations for Moore, Okla.
After losing an office building and her home in the tornado on May 22, 2011, Loretta Bailey is familiar with the destruction that a tornado brings. The 400 households that her insurance agency helped through the aftermath of the tornado also know that loss. \
- More Local News Headlines
-
Missouri Prairie Foundation plans BioBlitz for June 1-2 at prairies in Barton, Vernon counties
