Man is charged with a series of morning armed robberies

A 53-year-old Kansas City, Kan., man was charged Friday with a series of morning armed robberies, including one at a Westport restaurant in which the robber used a taxi to make his getaway.

Edward K. Thomas is charged with three counts of first-degree robbery and three counts of armed criminal action.

One case occurred about 7:45 a.m. Dec. 23 at Cupini’s restaurant in Westport. The owner was opening the business when he was struck on the head with a gun. The robber stole the owner’s wallet, which had a rubber band around it. The robber used his teeth to pull the band off, then spit it on the floor. The robber then hailed an unsuspecting cabdriver. According to court records, Thomas’s DNA was found on the rubber band.

Thomas also is charged with a robbery, in August about 7 a.m., of a printing company in the Crossroads district in which a phone he stole was tracked to a city bus that Thomas was riding, court records say.

Thomas also is charged with a 2013 robbery, about 6 a.m., of the Huddle House restaurant in Westport. In that case, court records say, Thomas’ mother identified him from surveillance photos.

Prosecutors asked for a $250,000 bond.

This story was originally published February 13, 2015 at 7:57 PM with the headline "Man is charged with a series of morning armed robberies."