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Police Investigating Possible Connection Between 2 Restaurant Robberies

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Police are investigating whether two armed restaurant robberies are possibly connected. One happened Sunday, and was captured on security tape, the other happened last month—and was also captured on tape.

At Di.Nido Caffe on 72 Street and Biscayne Boulevard, four men stormed in Sunday night with guns, ordering the people inside to the ground.

Heat player Roger Mason Jr., dining with his sister, happened to be at the restaurant and was robbed of his Rolex, his sister's purse was also snatched.

"They know what they're doing and they know what they're after. They're not wasting time getting what they want."

Miami Police released the video earlier Wednesday from Ni.Do. Caffe for the first time.

Two of the four suspects in Sunday's armed robbery were arrested and appeared in bond court Wednesday.

Rashaud Strod, 32, and Steven Dawson, 30, are accused of robbing the restaurant and also leading police on a chase that ended with their car crashing into a police cruiser.

Two suspects remain at large, and now police are using surveillance to hopefully help catch the armed thieves.

On November 19, around 12:23 a.m., the District Restaurant, 190 NE 46th Street, was robbed at gunpoint.  According to the manager, he was walking in and out of the rear door, bringing in items from outside when he observed the suspects standing outside.

One offender, according to police, was armed with a black revolver entered the premises.

The District's patrons and employees were ordered to the floor while the thieves took some belongings from their pockets as well as the cash register.

The robbers fled the restaurant in an unknown direction, police said, with approximately $3,000.00 in U.S. currency and belongings.

"Investigators are working both of these cases very hard and they're trying to see if there's some type of correlation between both robberies.

Anyone with any information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.

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