A Shake Shack employee in Arizona is accused of orchestrating an elaborate robbery at his own workplace — allegedly returning to the restaurant masked and armed hours after calling out sick, then locking two co-workers inside a walk-in cooler while stealing thousands of dollars from the safe, according to police.
Keondre Simmons, 33, was arrested on Aug. 5 when he returned to the Shake Shack location in Kierland Commons, Scottsdale, for his next scheduled shift, court documents obtained by Fox affiliate KSAZ report. He faces charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault and kidnapping.
Background
Investigators say the scheme began around midnight on Aug. 3, when Simmons called out of his shift at the burger joint. Hours later, authorities allege he returned to the restaurant with a firearm, taking advantage of an employee's assumption that someone had arrived for a scheduled delivery.
"[The employee] opened the door after hearing the delivery bell, believing a scheduled delivery had arrived," the court documents state. "When the door opened, the suspect pointed a firearm at [the employee], ordered him inside, and escorted him at gunpoint toward the walk-in cooler."
Simmons allegedly forced the first employee into the cooler and secured the door using a latch that police say only employees would know how to operate. He then located the on-duty manager and demanded the safe be opened, according to investigators.
The Investigation
Authorities allege Simmons fled with approximately $2,800 in cash after forcing both employees — the manager and the first worker — into the walk-in cooler together. However, the two managed to escape using an internal failsafe mechanism in the cooler.
Once outside the cooler, police say Simmons confronted the employees again, marching them into the store office where he allegedly made them kneel while destroying their cellphones and the office phone before fleeing the scene.
Detectives say security personnel at Kierland Commons observed a masked individual arriving at and departing from the Shake Shack both before and after the robbery. The two targeted employees provided police with detailed descriptions of the suspect, telling investigators that his "build, hairline, voice and mannerisms" matched Simmons, according to court documents.
Investigators say the alleged gunman demonstrated intimate knowledge of the restaurant's layout, including equipment locations and how to operate the cooler door and its latch — details consistent with someone who worked at the establishment.
Key Takeaways
- Keondre Simmons, 33, has been charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault and kidnapping in connection with the Aug. 3 incident
- Police allege he called out sick from his shift around midnight on Aug. 3, then returned hours later to rob the restaurant
- Simmons allegedly locked two co-workers inside a walk-in cooler using an employee-only latch while holding them at gunpoint
- Authorities say he stole approximately $2,800 in cash before forcing employees into the cooler and destroying their phones
- Coworkers identified him by his "build, hairline, voice and mannerisms" along with his apparent familiarity with the restaurant's operations
What's Next
Simmons is being held in Maricopa County Jail on a $100,000 bond. He is expected to appear in court for preliminary proceedings as the case moves forward. Investigators continue to review security footage from Kierland Commons as they build their case.