PORTALES, NM — Police in Portales are looking for a masked man accused of robbing the Pizza Hut on Sunday night. Investigators say the suspect entered the restaurant armed with a handgun, demanded money from the register and then left through the same side doors he used to get in.
The incident was reported around 9 p.m. at the restaurant at 1001 N. Chicago Ave. No employees were injured, and police say the gun was not fired during the robbery. Officers are now asking for help identifying the suspect and learning more about how he got away.
How investigators say the robbery unfolded
According to Portales police, employees said the man came into the Pizza Hut through side doors on E. Brazos Street. Once inside, he approached an employee and demanded cash from the register. The worker complied, and the suspect left the business shortly after taking the money.
Police have not said how much money was taken. They also have not released any information about a getaway vehicle or whether the suspect acted alone. For now, the main details investigators have shared focus on the route the man used, the way he entered the restaurant and the weapon he was carrying.
What police have released about the suspect
Investigators described the suspect as about 5 feet, 6 inches tall. Police say he was wearing a black zip-up sweatshirt, blue jeans and a black mask at the time of the robbery. He was also armed with a handgun, though it was not discharged.
That description is now part of the search as officers try to find anyone who saw the man before or after the incident. The clothing and physical description may help police compare the robbery with any nearby security video or witness accounts collected from the area around the restaurant.
No injuries reported after the armed confrontation
Even with a firearm involved, no one inside the restaurant was hurt. Police said the gun was not fired, and there was no immediate report of any physical confrontation between the suspect and employees. The robbery appears to have ended once the employee handed over the cash.
That outcome matters for the investigation because it gives officers a clearer timeline, but it also leaves questions about the man’s identity and movements after he left the building. Police have not said whether they believe the suspect had any prior connection to the business or the employees who were working that night.
Why the side-door entry is important to the case
One of the most useful details for investigators may be the suspect’s entry point. Employees told police the man came in through side doors on E. Brazos Street, then exited the same way after the robbery. That route could help detectives review cameras, nearby traffic or witnesses in the area.
Businesses with side entrances often have different visibility than front doors, and that can matter in a fast-moving case like this one. Police have not said whether surveillance footage has already been recovered, but they are actively seeking video that might show the suspect approaching or leaving the restaurant.
How the public can help Portales police
Portales police are asking anyone with information to contact the department at 575-356-4404. They are also looking for any video related to the robbery, which could include security footage from neighboring businesses, homes or vehicles parked nearby.
Even small details could help, such as a clothing match, a vehicle seen in the area or a person who noticed someone fitting the description before 9 p.m. Sunday. At this stage, investigators are relying on witnesses and recordings to narrow down the suspect and determine where he went after leaving the Pizza Hut.
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