Sheriff warns public of gunpoint robberies
By Staff Reports
Published in News on July 13, 2010 1:46 PM
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office has issued a warning to the public in the wake of armed robberies by criminals who followed them home from after shopping at Wal-Mart on Spence Avenue.
On Monday, a woman and a friend left the store at about 3:45 a.m. On their way home they noticed a vehicle following them. When they arrived home near Stantonsburg, the vehicle drove by. As they got out of their car, a black man in dark clothing with an orange bandana over his face ran from a nearby field with a gun and demanded money. A witness reported an older model dark colored Buick in the area at the time of the robbery.
Early today, a man reported he left the store at about 1:15 a.m. and drove to his home on Worth Drive. When he got home, a black man in black clothing wearing an orange bandana his home and exited his vehicle he heard a voice yelling at him to get down. He then saw a black man dressed in dark clothing with a bright orange bandana over his face with a handgun. After the victim was robbed the suspect fled on foot towards N.C. 111.
The suspect is described as about 5-foot-9, 160 pounds, medium build, with short hair, between 17 and 25 years old.
Sheriff Carey Winders urged residents to be aware of their surroundings, especially when returning home. If you believe you are being followed, do not go home but stay in a public area and call 911.
Anyone with information about the robberies is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 731-1481 or Crime Stoppers at 735-2255.