Creatures of the Night: Man in KISS Mask Robs Virginia Pizza Shop

Benjamin Freed | dcist

Police in Dumfries, Va. are looking for a masked and armed robber who held up a pizza shop last night, NBC4 reports. The man, who looked to be six feet tall and slender, weighing about 155 pounds, walked into Vocelli Pizza Restaurant at 8:42 p.m. Wednesday. He brandished a handgun and left with an undisclosed amount of cash, police said.

Other than his build, little is known about the robber’s appearance, however it is quite possible he’ll respond favorably to 1970s glam rock, as in addition to his black jeans and jacket, he was also wearing a KISS mask. From the security footage released, it appears the mask features a black star over the right eye, suggesting the robber is partial to singer and rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley.

No word if police are attempting to lure in the suspect by playing Stanley’s 1978 solo single “Hold Me, Touch Me (Think of Me When We’re Apart).”

Still, while the idea of dressing up as a member of a costumed rock band to pull off a small-time heist seems novel, why not support local music while you’re at it. This robbery took place in Virginia, home state of Gwar. The fully costumed and completely ridiculous thrash metal outfit is from Richmond, about 80 miles from where the great KISS pizza shakedown of 2012 took place.

Then again, it’s harder to get away in massive, spiky, foam latex armor than it is to do so in a Paul Stanley mask.