RICHMOND, Va. -- Police are asking for help finding an armed suspect who robbed a gas station in Richmond Saturday afternoon.
Detectives, who released a surveillance image of the robber, think the man may be responsible for several similar robberies from Richmond to Washington D.C.
Richmond Police spokesman James Mercante said the suspect walked into the Circle K Exxon at 2753 W. Broad Street at 12:35 p.m.
Officials said he brandished a handgun and stole cash from an employee before running off on foot.
No one was injured.
The suspect is described as a white male between 35 to 40 years old and around six feet tall and weighing 150-160 pounds. He has brown hair and short facial hair.
If you have information that could help investigators, call Third Precinct Detective Jack Larry at 804-646-1647 or Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.
'It's just bold'
Terrell Turner visits the Circle K on Broad and Boulevard once or twice a month.
His December pit stop comes one day after a serial robber hit the store.
“I mean it's just bold. People don't care,” Turner said. “That's the scary part; the dangerous part."
Turner is glad the clerk who was robbed was not hurt. What's troublesome to him is that the suspect remains on the loose.
“Definitely hope they catch him, because there is no telling what happens next time when someone doesn't give him the cash,” he said.
Expert: 'Suspect didn't seem to care'
Retired police commander Steve Neal called the crime is interesting.
"Not only did this robbery happen in the middle of the day, this suspect didn't seem to care there are surveillance cameras posted posted all over this store, inside and out,” Neal said. “Maybe that is an indication that maybe he doesn't live here.”
Police said he suspect may have robbed convenience stores from Richmond to D.C.
Neal thinks a gas station is an odd target for a serial robber.
“Often times when you find serial crimes that are over a distance, like up and down the East Coast, there is generally something that's more significant, like a bank robbery or maybe jewelry store or something like that.”
Neal adds that sharing the photo of the suspect is key for investigators. That way other stores and customers can be on the lookout.