By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

KANNAPOLIS — Rowan County Sheriff’s detectives are looking for a man believed to have robbed two Kannapolis convenience stores within days. In both cases, the suspect took other items in addition to money and made the clerks lie down on the ground, according to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.

The most recent robbery occurred this morning at 3:20 a.m. at the 7-Eleven, located at 2720 West C St. The clerk told investigators she was putting doughnuts on racks inside the store when a white male wearing a black hooded sweatshirt walked into the store. The man was wearing a red ski mask and blue jeans, said Capt. John Sifford.

The suspect told the clerk to walk around the corner and open the cash drawers.

The suspect told the clerk, “open them now and don’t (expletive) play around,” she told detectives. He took money from the cash drawers, which was less than $100, Sifford said. The suspect also took six lottery tickets.

Afterward, he told her to lie face down on the floor and not to get up until he was gone. Detectives reviewed surveillance footage and determined he was in and out within three minutes. He left on foot near Enochville Avenue. A K-9 was called to search for the suspect. The dog followed a trail to Enochville Avenue, Timway Drive and West C Street before he stopped. No arrest has been made.

The first robbery occurred Jan. 7 just before midnight at the Rushco store located at 2023 West C St. In that incident, the clerk said the man came into the store, pointed a handgun at her and ordered her behind the counter. He told her to open the register and give him the money inside it. He searched under the cash drawers for more money and took a pack of cigarettes before he ordered her on the ground. He then ran out of the store.

The clerk in that incident said she didn’t recall seeing him leave in a vehicle.

The surveillance video showed a man wearing a navy blue hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, black sandals, a dark-colored ski mask with a red color around the mouth area and white paint on it. He wore latex gloves. The clerk said the male was white, about 6 feet tall and skinny.

A K-9 was brought in to track the suspect. The dog did note a scent in a business parking lot next door.

Anyone with information is asked to contact 704-216-8700 or Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 866-639-5245.