Former employee allegedly robs Little Caesar’s

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind.—A former employee allegedly robbed the Little Caesar's where he was fired from, according to the probable cause affidavit. 

On April 18, officers responded to an armed robbery in the 500 block of Bittersweet Road in Mishawaka.

An employee at Little Caesar’s reported to police that while he was working, a male dressed in a black hoodie, wearing a mask and gloves robbed him with a handgun, court documents said.

The employee said that the man entered through the unlocked back door, grabbed him by the arm, led him to the safe and told the employee to give him the money, according to the probable cause affidavit.

According to court documents, the employee told police that the man who robbed him was 24-year-old Nathaniel Prathaftakis, an employee who was recently fired for stealing cash from the business because the employee recognized Prathaftakis’ voice, height, weight, build and mannerisms

Another employee at the store, who had taken a break just before the alleged robbery, gave the same description, also believing the male to be Prathaftakis, court documents said.

Officers went to Prathaftakis’ house where his father told police that he had been home most of the evening but did leave to go to the store.

Prathaftakis’ friend was at the home and told police that Prathaftakis had been talking about robbing Little Caesar’s for a few weeks as he had recently been fired and was angry about it, according to the probable cause affidavit.

The friend told police that Prathaftakis left the house with his girlfriend, who drove him to the alleged robbery, with a mask, black sweatshirt and black pants, court documents said.

According to court documents, the friend also told police that Prathaftakis did not have a gun but he and his girlfriend were going to use a fake gun in the robbery.

When Prathaftakis returned home, the friend did not see a mask. Prathaftakis was talking about how much money he got, how easy he thought it was and that there were two employees working at the time, court documents said.

Police also spoke with Prathaftakis’ cousin, who also told police that Prathaftakis had been talking about “robbing them” for a while, the probable cause affidavit said.

Prathaftakis is being held at the St. Joseph County Jail on a $3,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on April 29 and is charged with one count of armed robbery.