Police said a Dahlonega man who was arrested Wednesday and accused of holding up a Gainesville Waffle House was a frequent customer.
Benjamin Skeen, 34, cased the diner before holding an employee at gunpoint and stealing cash from the register last week, Gainesville police spokeswoman Cpl. Jessica Van said in a news release.
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The Waffle House staff helped police identify Skeen after recognizing him as a regular.
“The Waffle House team members assisted Gainesville investigators in the identification of the suspect by meticulously dissecting surveillance footage,” Gainesville police Chief Jay Parrish said in a statement. “Waffle House team members were familiar with Skeen being a frequent customer at this location.”
According to police, Skeen entered the restaurant on Pentee Drive about 5 a.m. last Wednesday wearing a dark trench coat and a surgical mask.
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After holding up the employee and stealing the cash, the man left the store on foot, investigators said.
After reviewing surveillance footage, investigators learned that the Lumpkin County man had been to the restaurant several times leading up to the robbery, and cased the location before entering.
Skeen faces one count of armed robbery. He remains in the Hall County Jail without bond, records show.
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