Robberies May Be Related

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Southern Pines police are investigating two weekend robberies that may be related.

Three armed men robbed an ice cream vendor Friday while he was in his truck, and on Saturday a trio of armed robbers hit an area hotel.

"It is extremely possible that the two incidents are related," said Lt. Rodney Hardy of the Southern Pines Police Department.

Hardy said the proximity of both incidents, the description of the suspects and the method of the crimes all make it likely that they were related.

The first robbery occurred at 9:03 p.m. Friday in the 400 block of Shaw Avenue. A 21-year-old employee of Super Taste Ice Cream was in the back of his truck when three men entered through the front, Hardy said. They pointed weapons at him and took cash and cigarettes.

Saturday night, three males entered the Days Inn, 805 SW Service Road, and robbed two hotel employees at gunpoint. The suspects made off with cash, credit cards, keys and a cell phone.

The locations of the crimes are about a half a mile apart. The robbers in both incidents were described as three males wearing black clothing with their faces partially covered.

Calling the robberies crimes of opportunity, Hardy urged residents to be aware of their surroundings at all times and to pay careful attention when things seem suspicious

"People need to be observant about what's going on around them, and if something makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, than that is your instinct telling you something is wrong," he said.

The robbery at the Days Inn was the second in six months. On Dec. 28, three masked men wearing all black robbed a hotel clerk.

Hardy asked that anyone with information on any of the robberies contact him at (910) 692-2732.

Contact Tom Embrey by e-mail at tembrey@thepilot.com.

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theonewithsense 3 years ago

Awesome reporting and police work. I never would have connected the two robberies. But if you look closely at the descriptions of the two robberies they match! Robbery #1, 3 men with guns. Robbery #2, 3 males with guns.

Be on the lookout for 3 men. If you see them be careful! Call the police!

teufelhunden 3 years ago

Nice picture theonewithsense! Rest assured I will keep my eyes peeled for 3 men.

BlkTalon 3 years ago

2nd Amendment combined with firearms training and a CCW permit....keep the doors locked on the truck when stopped...or just move outta SP...idk. Just throwing ideas out there for discussion....missing the old Moore County I guess....

recondo 3 years ago

Maybe it was a roving band of Ninjas since all were dressed in black with masks and appear to have fadded into the darkness. Great Just when i came to grips with the fear of Robbing bands of Golfers that were Knocking over convience stores and stealing newports now i have to deal with ninjas too......

theonewithsense 3 years ago

Am I a racist because I assume that the robberies of the ice cream vendor, days inn and the kangaroo (or shooting or whatever happened there) were perpetrated by young black punks? There is no evidence that they were black. The police and the pilot evidently don't know their race. Why do I or would anyone else assume they are young black punks?