Two armed robberies in Fairbanks in one day

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The Fairbanks Police Department responded to an armed robbery that took place at Lucky’s Pull Tabs located at 721 Gaffney Rd. early Friday morning, August 4, at 1:56 a.m. Two men wearing masks entered the pull tab business, kicked down a door and pointed a gun at an employee, according to victims at the scene. They stole an undetermined amount of money and personal items from the business, and also stole from the two victims. The suspects then fled away on foot.

5 Aces Pull Tabs located at 418 Turner St. was also held up the same day at 10:38 a.m. Fairbanks Police Dept. and North Pole Police responded to the robbery. A witness reported that a man wearing a face mask entered the pull tab business and pointed a handgun at an employee before stealing money and fleeing the scene in a vehicle.

Officers located the vehicle at approximately 11:21 a.m. according to an FPD press release. The driver and sole occupant was identified as 44-year-old Timothy Lynn Beckingham.

Police investigation revealed Beckingham was the getaway driver for the gunman, 27-year-old Mark Pavel Ciloci. Further investigation revealed Ciloci and 30-year-old Matthew David Wendel had committed the robbery at Lucky’s Pull Tabs.

Mark Ciloci was arrested and taken to the Fairbanks Correctional Center and charged with two counts of Robbery in the First Degree.

Timothy Beckingham was arrested and taken to the Fairbanks Correctional Center and charged with Robbery in the First Degree and Misconduct Involving Weapons in the Third Degree, because he was a felon in possession of a firearm.

An arrest warrant was issued for Matthew Wendel on August 10. On August 11 Wendel was arrested and remanded to the Fairbanks Correctional Center.

Anyone with additional information about the two robberies is asked to contact Detective Reuter at 907-450-6500 or send an email to creuter@fairbanks.us

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