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DUVAL COUNTY -- The Sheriff's efforts to shut down game rooms continued Monday morning as he and his deputies visited each location to make sure they were closed.

September 30th was the dea… Click to Read More and see additional updates

DUVAL COUNTY -- The Sheriff's efforts to shut down game rooms continued Monday morning as he and his deputies visited each location to make sure they were closed.

September 30th was the deadline for those businesses to shut down or face an investigation. Sheriff Romeo Ramirez said safety is the priority for the public. It's been nearly a month since 2 armed gunmen wearing ski masks robbed the Stardust game room near San Diego and got away with nearly 25-hundred dollars. Four arrests were made after the robbery.

However, Sheriff Ramirez sent a letter to all of the game room operators in the county, ordering them to close. The letter said that the game room businesses were violating every thing from gambling laws to building code regulations. On Monday, Sheriff Ramirez went door-to-door to see which businesses complied.

"I know we visited, I think it was like 12 establishments this morning and pretty much each and every one of them had a gate with a lock on it or some type of structure blocking the way for the establishment," Sheriff Ramirez said.

Six news rode with sheriff's deputies to various game room locations only to find barricaded entrances, locked doors and no signage. Something the sheriff's department said, operators did on their own.

"We didn't enforce any kind of closure on them, it's a voluntary closure," Deputy Matt Caffey said.

Our first stop was at what used to be the Stardust game room off County Road 304 near San Diego. Where that robbery took place in early September, sending the sheriff's department into lock down mode.

As a result of the Sheriff's warning to game room operators, the doors are now locked and the lights are out for game rooms across Duval County.

After driving around all morning we didn't find a single game room open for business. "I'm surprised we didn't have to be more reactive to the situation," Deputy Caffey said.

The sheriff's department plans to keep a close eye on the establishments to ensure that none of them plan to re-open in the future.

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SAN DIEGO - Residents in Duval County are now looking to the city to propose a new ordinance that would allow new game rooms to open within the San Diego city limits.

Residents said they fear they won't be able to enjoy the pasttime if the Sheriff's Department follows through on shutting them down.

"We want to hear that machine, bing bing bing," Hector Galvan said. Galvan also said that game room patrons will be sad to see the doors close. "They're sad because they're going to close the game rooms and all that."

A warning to shutdown the 13 game rooms in Duval County gives residents 3 more weeks to go gaming before the Sheriff's Department takes action. However, that isn't stopping residents from turning to the city to keep legal game rooms around.

Mayor Ruperto Canales said, "We put it on the agenda to consider the item because we've had people come and approach us about opening game rooms."

Which means San Diego city council could vote in favor of opening new game rooms inside the city limits. Right now all the game rooms are located in the county jurisdiction.

"If it's going to benefit the county, I hope it stays open," one resident said.

Other residents, said they hope that the council votes for in favor of game rooms within the city limits, simply because there's not much else to do.

"The only thing you can do here in this little town is make a BBQ or drink a beer or whatever but that gets old," Galvan said.

Some people want the option to go to the game rooms and play will be there, even though there are risks.

"It's addictive, like a drug, addictive. Plus, you think you're going to win more and more because it looks like it's going to hit. It'll hit but in your pocket," Joe Alaniz, a resident said.

The city council meeting is at 7 P.M. The council can table the item or take immediate action.

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DUVAL COUNTY - Sheriff Romeo Ramirez has warned game rooms in Duval County that are operating illegally to shut down voluntarily or prepare to be investigated by local and state authorities.

In a letter dated September 6th, Ramirez outlined 9 points of potential violations in with game rooms. His concerns include operators possible paying out to cash to customers, the failure to register machines, non-filing of tax returns, and fire safety violations.

Ramirez also mentioned last week's robbery of the Stardust game room. Two armed men held up a clerk at the business last Tuesday night and fled as the owner fired several shots at the vehicle.

Two men and two women are now in custody for allegedly carrying out the robbery.

The letter to game room operators states, "In the over 20 years of experience in Law Enforcement I have worked in Duval County, there had never been an aggravated robbery until the introduction of these Amusement/Gambling Facilities."

The Sheriff told operators they have until the end of the month to close up shop before he considers whether to bring in outside investigators.

Read the Sheriff's letter here

DUVAL COUNTY-- Two armed masked men robbed a brand new game room late Tuesday night in San Diego. Officers said the thieves made off with about $2,500 in cash.

The robbery happened at the Stardust game room off County Road 304 just west of San Diego.

According to the sheriff's Department two men walked into the game room wearing black ski masks and headed straight for the cashier's kiosk.

The crooks then pointed their handguns at the worker and demanded the money. As the robbers took off, the owner of the Stardust ran out and fired several rounds at the suspects vehicle.

Deputies later found that getaway car but no suspects. The vehicle was impounded as detectives continue to investigate the crime.

Authorities said they have several leads working and if the suspects are caught they will be charged with aggravated robbery.

DUVAL COUNTY - Investigators with the Duval County Sheriff's Office are looking for at least two suspects involved in the robbery of a game room in San Diego overnight.

Two masked men came into the business on County Road 304 armed with handguns. Investigators say they headed right for the clerks' kiosk and demanded all of their cash.

The men got away with $2,500. As they left, the owner of the business fired several shots, but it is not known if any of the suspects were injured.

It's believed a getaway driver was involved in the robbery. Authorities later found the suspect's vehicle and had it hauled off to the impound lot, but so far no arrests in the case.