FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. — Police are searching for a suspect who allegedly used pepper spray to rob three separate businesses in Virginia in the course of a week. Detectives believe all three robberies are connected.
On Tuesday, April 16, at 1 a.m., officers responded to a 7-Eleven store on Rose Hill Drive in Rose Hill for a reported robbery. Police say the suspect walked into the store, pepper sprayed an employee and stole merchandise. The victim was treated for minor injuries at the scene.
On Saturday, April 13, officers responded to the Velvets Tobacco and More on Richmond Highway in Woodlawn for a reported robbery. Investigators say the suspect walked into the store and demanded merchandise and personal property from the employee. He then pepper sprayed the clerk in the face and stole cash from the register and merchandise. The suspect also stole the clerk's car keys. The clerk was treated for minor injuries at the scene. Police say the suspect left the area in the victim's stolen 2012 Infinity G35. At 1:45 a.m., officers found the stolen car unoccupied in the area of Sky View Drive and Earl Flannagan Drive.
On Thursday, April 11, at 11 p.m., police say the same suspect walked into a Shell gas station located on Richmond Highway in Woodlawn and demanded cash. The suspect took money from the register in this case and then pepper sprayed the clerk. The suspect then ran from the business before police arrived on scene. The victim was treated for minor injuries on scene.
The suspect was caught on surveillance video and can be seen pictured below:
Detectives are asking anyone with information to call the Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 3.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web – Click HERE. Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for a cash reward. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you.
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