Police departments from Ames, Boone and Marshalltown are conducting ongoing investigations regarding a rash of false 911 calls about robberies at three McDonald’s restaurants Wednesday.

The first call was placed at 11:45 a.m. to the Ames Police Department concerning “masked men with guns” robbing the west Ames McDonald’s, 3621 Lincoln Way, said Ames Police Cmdr. Jim Robinson.

When police arrived on the scene, they found “it was business as usual.”

Managers at the west Ames McDonald’s did not wish to comment on the call.

According to a press release from Boone Police, authorities received a call at 11:55 a.m. from a male voice that said a robbery was taking place at McDonald’s, 1227 S. Marshall St. When police arrived on the scene, they found no evidence of a robbery.

Robinson said false emergency calls create a dangerous situation, because they divert police traffic and manpower, putting the general public at risk. He also said false calls such as these don’t happen very often.