Columbia Gas Station Robber Nabbed: Police

COLUMBIA, MD — The Howard County police arrested a Columbia man Tuesday and charged him with the armed robberies of two local gas stations over the weekend, according to a police report. Mancel Mbossa-Mbolla, 21, who lives on Sealed Message Road, has been charged with two counts of armed robbery, two counts of robbery, two counts of theft and multiple counts of assault, the police said.

No one was injured in the robberies, the police added. The first one occurred at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday, when an individual walked into Liberty Gas in the 6400 block of Dobbin Center Way, approached an employee, flashed a knife and demanded cash. (Get Patch’s daily newsletter and real-time news alerts, or like us on Facebook. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

The employee complied, and the robber also stole cigarettes before fleeing, the police said.

The second heist took place early Sunday, at about 1:13 a.m. An individual entered Exxon Gas in the 8200 block of Snowden River Parkway and placed several items on the counter, the police said.

When the individual handed money to the clerk, he then grabbed the employee and flashed a knife. The clerk dropped the money and ran out of the gas station, and the individual picked up the money and fled. Nothing was reported stolen, the police said.

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