District police are investigating a spree of robberies of convenience stores in Northeast Washington, and they are asking the public to help identify and locate the culprits.
At least four stores were robbed during the early-morning hours last Sunday and Monday, police said. The robbers wore masks and brandished guns and fled in a dark-colored vehicle.
Investigators are trying to determine whether all of the robberies are related.
The first robbery happened about 2 a.m. Nov. 27, when three armed people stormed the 7-Eleven at 950 Division Avenue NE. One robber jumped over the counter and demanded money from the cash drawer. The other two forced the customers to the floor and fished through the victims’ pockets and taking personal items.
The robbers all wore dark clothing, masks and jackets with hoods over their heads. They escaped in a dark-colored vehicle.
About two hours later, two gunmen wearing dark clothing entered the 7-Eleven at 2501 Benning Road NE pointing guns at the clerk and customers. One robber jumped over the counter and grabbed money from the cashier, while the other ordered the customers to the ground and rifled through their belongings.
The next day, Monday, the 7-Eleven at 2501 Benning Road was robbed again, this time about 6 a.m. The two armed bandits had the same modus operandi, with one jumping the counter and taking the money, while the other taking money from the people in the store. One robber used a gun to strike a victim in the head.
The robber wore masks. One had on a blue jacket and the other wore a gray jacket.
Thirty minutes later, the same two culprits robbed the Shop Express at 3900 Benning Road NE.
Surveillance videos of the armed robberies can be viewed here.
D.C. police offers a reward of $10,000 for information that leads to a conviction.
Anyone with information should call police at 202-727-9099 or 888-919-2746.
