Rash of Armed Robberies Sweeping Burlington, Camden Counties
By Diana Rocco
CINNAMINSON, N.J., (CBS) -- A robbery spree in South Jersey has police offering a reward tonight.
Officers say the suspects struck several convenience stores in Camden and Burlington counties. One of the robberies turned violent.
READ: $7,500 Reward Offered In Convenience Store Robbery, Shooting That Left Clerk Severely Injured
Police say these robbers are targeting the same area, each time showing a gun and getting away with only a few hundred dollars of cash in the drawer -- then striking again, sometimes days, if not hours, later.
A rash of armed robberies is sweeping Burlington and Camden counties. Nine in recent weeks and now authorities say these men caught on camera from this Country Farms robbery in Maple Shade last week may be behind them all.
"They took the money out of the cash register all while holding the gun threatening him, and then they took off," Lt. Jeffrey Hoch of Maple Shade Police said.
The clerk even handed over the change tray, but the robbers didn't want it. Too shaken to go on camera, he tells CBS 3 they got away with $700 and it wasn't worth his life.
The men are armed and dangerous. On Jan. 10, police say they shot a 28-year-old clerk multiple times at this 7-Eleven in Pennsauken when he reached for an alert button (See Related Story).
The latest robbery was Monday night in Florence at Town Liquors. The owner tells CBS 3 the men put a gun in his face and wanted the cash drawer. Their getaway car caught on security cameras.
Maple Shade was hit two more times. At this Sunoco, the attendant locked the men out.
"The attendant inside the store would not let them in, he saw they had a gun, they turned around and proceeded over to the individual who walked outside pumping gas and robbed him," Lt. Hoch said.
Later that day an attempt to hit this Shell in Cinnaminson was thwarted.
Police believe the thieves are targeting the Route 73 and 130 corridor.
"The best thing that a store clerk or or an attendant can do when faced with this situation is simply comply. Let them have what it is they want. And be the best witness possible," Lt. Hoch said.
Police say in each of the robberies sometimes the description has varied, but the clothing that the men are wearing and the weapon have always remain the same. That is what has led police to believe that these are all related. They are asking anyone with information to give them a call.
