No new leads in armed robberies
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on May 14, 2006 2:02 AM
No news is not good news for law-enforcement agencies investigating crimes.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate three armed robberies and an attempted armed robbery in the northern side of the county.
But Capt. George Raecher, who heads the investigations division, said Friday there was nothing new to report.
No arrests have been made in the two armed holdups of the Fremont liquor store, the armed robbery of the Stoney Creek Food Mart and the attempted armed holdup of Taylor's C-Mart in Eureka.
Raecher said his detectives were continuing to work the cases with assistance from other nearby agencies -- including the Wilson County Sheriff's Office and the Fremont, Pikeville and Stantonsburg police departments.
The string of robberies began March 20, when three men tried to rob the store in Eureka. When the owner went outside, the suspects entered the store, confronted two customers and then struggled with them. A shot was fired, reports said, but no one was injured. The robbers, described as black, fled without taking any money.
Three days later, three robbers held up the Stoney Creek Food Mart at N.C. 111 and Stoney Creek Road and got away with about $3,000.
Three robbers on March 25 held up the state liquor store at U.S. 117 and N.C. 222 in Fremont and escaped with what was described as a substantial amount of cash.
A dark vehicle was seen near the stores at the time of the three robberies, Raecher said.
Two black men robbed the same liquor store March 28 and fled with about $500. The same clerk was robbed both times.
The county Alcohol Beverage Commission board closed the store until April 28.
The robbers were believed to be in their 20s, and they have worn dark clothing that covered parts of their faces.
A day later, a knife-wielding teenager was arrested after a robbery at the Saulston Community Store at 4673 Wayne Memorial Drive. Michael King, 17, of Tinderwood Drive was apprehended a little more than an hour later. He was charged with armed robbery and jailed in lieu of a secured bond.
Raecher said he did not think King was involved in the other holdups.
Anyone with information on the armed robberies is asked to call the 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.