04/27/06 — Twice-robbed ABC store will reopen Friday

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Twice-robbed ABC store will reopen Friday

By Jack Stephens
Published in News on April 27, 2006 1:50 PM

FREMONT -- The Fremont liquor store -- the target of armed robbers twice within three days in late March -- will reopen Friday, state officials said.

The store at U.S. 117 and N.C. 222 will be open from noon to 7 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays.

The store was robbed March 25 by three men who stole "a substantial sum of money," detectives said. A dark vehicle was seen near the store.

Then March 28, two robbers grabbed about $500 and fled on foot. The suspects were tracked by a sheriff's search dog and handler until the scent was lost.

Wayne County Sheriff's Capt. George Raecher said he believes the suspects got in a vehicle and sped off, but he said no vehicle was seen.

The same clerk was victimized both times.

The robbers have been described as black men in their 20s, wearing dark clothing and hooded sweatshirts that covered parts of their faces.

Raecher said Wednesday that he had no new information that would lead to a breakthrough in the holdups and two others in northern Wayne County.

"I wish there were," he added.

The string of armed robberies started March 20 when three men tried to rob Taylor's C-Mart in Eureka. After the owner went outside, the robbers entered and struggled with two customers. A shot was fired, but no one was injured. The suspects fled without getting any money.

Three men on March 23 held up the Stoney Creek Food Mart at N.C. 111 and Stoney Creek Church Road and escaped with about $3,000.

In neighboring Wilson County, a convenience store in Black Creek and a fast-food restaurant in Wilson were robbed during the same time period.

Anyone with information on the robberies was asked to call Fremont police at 242-5152, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office at 731-1481 or Goldsboro-Wayne County Crime Stoppers at 735-2255. Callers may remain anonymous and might be eligible for a cash reward, if their information leads to an arrest.

Fremont police are being assisted by the Wayne and Wilson County sheriff's offices and Stantonsburg police in the investigation.