Jheri Curl Wearing Robber Was "Nostalgic" For The '70s

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Keith Beal
(Volusia County Jail)

New Smyrna Beach, FL - A wig-wearing robber tells police he only wore it because he missed the '70s and wanted his Jheri curl back.

Last June, New Smyrna Beach police responded to a Denny's restaurant found off State Road 44 after receiving reports of a robbery.

There, officers met with employees who stated the following:

The suspect, later identified as 49-year-old Keith Beal, walked up to the register and placed an order for fries.

When the employee working the register told Beal that the total was $3.82, Beal claimed to only have $3.

The employee said she would cover the 82 cent difference, so she began to cash him out. As she started to cash Beal out, he pointed a handgun at her and said: "Don't move, look at me, give me all the money."

After Beal got the money, he exited through the front door and left the business on foot, headed towards Vics Way.

The employees described Beal to police as a black male, wearing a black curly haired wig, which one of the employees described as "funny."

Surveillance footage from a nearby apartment complex showed Beal running to a waiting silver Toyota Camry that was used to make an escape.

Later on in the investigation, NSBPD made contact with Altamonte Springs Police Department, who told New Smyrna police that they had an armed robbery, also at a Denny's, with a similar MO.

They also received two emails from the Orlando Police Department and the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, who told them about a robbery involving a silver vehicle and a robbery where a mask was left behind.

NSBPD later received an email from Altamonte that showed a suspect matching the description of the man who robbed the NSB Denny's.

A few days later, Orlando police made contact with NSBPD, saying that prints they had found at one of the robberies matched Beal's identity.

OPD told New Smyrna police that they were working on locating Beal's vehicle as well as a trap and trace on his cellphone.

The next morning, Orlando police apprehended Beal and brought him into custody.

At the interview, Beal was asked if he recalled the incident in New Smyrna Beach, which he said he did.

When asked what happened, Beal said that he had been hooked on crack cocaine for a few months and that he wasn't going to use it as an excuse.

But, he felt bad and he never meant to cause anyone trauma or panic in the name of his habit, saying he took full responsibility.

Police asked him why he wore a wig to the robbery. That's when Beal tilted his head to the side and smirked, saying "I always wanted my Jheri curl back." Then he said he missed the '70s and wanted to go back to that time.

At the end of the interview, Beal asked that the victims and witnesses be told that he was very sorry and apologized for any fear he may have caused them.

Beal was charged with robbery with a firearm and aggravated assault with a firearm.

Jail records show that he's currently in custody at Volusia County Jail on $255,000 bond.