As the weather warms, crime against restaurant delivery workers tends to rise.

Robbers are more comfortable lurking outside in the shadows, waiting at a phony address, having provided a bogus phone number, police say.

``Although there hasn't been a significant change, there does seem to be a rise in restaurant delivery robberies,'' said Capt. Daniel Zampelli of the Akron Police Department. ``Our detectives are seeing one or two robberies per week.''

On Saturday, police saw two such robberies in one day.

At 5:30 p.m., Charles Paparone, a 54-year-old deliveryman for Domino's Pizza, 1260 Copley Road, was bringing a pizza to 909 Greenwood Ave. in West Akron. He arrived at the house and found it was vacant.

Two people then came out of the house and grabbed Paparone, tying him up in the house.

Later that evening, Yi Yang, manager at New China Restaurant, 1586 S. Hawkins Ave., was making a delivery in North Hill.

As Yang approached the house at 775 Elma St., a man standing on the porch motioned Yang to approach, police said.

When Yang did, the man punched him in the face. While falling backward, Yang kicked the man and they struggled. The robber eventually ran away, and Yang notified police.

Meanwhile, in a state that allows its law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed handgun for self-defense, a different outcome resulted when this Pennsylvania deliveryman was threatened with death:

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As the hour of Senate adoption of a substitute House Bill 12 approaches, we
thought it'd be healthy to review the circumstances under which HB274 died,
as well as the major moments for HB12 in the days leading up to now. This exercise will serve to remind all involved in the State House that it would be a serious mistake
to repeat history with HB12.

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On June 11th, the Youngstown City Council will be holding public hearings on the so-called assault weapons ordinance being considered by the safety committee.

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