Serial Robber’s Bad Habit: Stealing Cash, Cigarettes from Gas Stations

SILVER SPRING, MD — A robber with a bad habit of taking cash and Newport cigarettes from Silver Spring gas stations when he holds them up is now suspected of carjacking a woman as she pumped gas two weeks ago. Montgomery County Police on Tuesday released surveillance footage of the suspect, whom authorities believe has robbed gas stations in the community four times in the past year, most recently a Shell station on Nov. 25.

Just after 6 p.m. that day, the Shell station at 9510 Georgia Ave. was robbed at gunpoint and a customer was carjacked. The suspect walked into the gas station with a handgun, demanded money from the cash register and Newport cigarettes. After the clerk placed the cash and cigarettes in a plastic bag the suspect had brought with him, the robber fled out of the front door and ran toward the gas pumps.

The suspect confronted a woman who was fueling her vehicle, threatened her with a handgun and ordered the victim to get out of her vehicle and give him the keys. She followed his demands and police say the suspect drove off in the woman’s 2008 black Scion XD.

The victim was not injured in the carjacking.

Detectives believe the same suspect committed three earlier armed robberies at a nearby BP gas station at 9475 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring. Those robberies are:

• October 5, 2015, at 10:31 p.m: The suspect entered the gas station and propped an item in the front door to keep the door open. He showed a handgun as he approached the clerk and demanded money and Newport cigarettes, which the store clerk handed over. The suspect placed the cash and cigarettes in a plastic bag that he had brought with him, then left.

• December 24, 2015, at 7:55 p.m.: Two men entered the business. The first suspect, who police believe is involved in all three robberies and wearing a black sweatshirt, propped open the door to keep it open, implied that he had a weapon, and told customers not to move. The second suspect (wearing a white sweatshirt) stole cash out of a customer’s hand and then vaulted over the counter. Both suspects took cash, Newport cigarettes, and lighters from the business.

• October 18, 2016, at 3:30 a.m.: The suspect entered the business and propped open the front door. He produced a handgun and demanded cash, and also took Newport cigarettes. Police say the robber forced the employee to go inside of the bathroom while he fled. The suspect placed the cash in a white bag that he had brought with him.

Anyone with information about these armed robberies or carjacking and/or the suspect involved is asked to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070.

Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to an arrest and/or indictment for these crimes.

»Surveillance video from Silver Spring Shell station robbery, suspect image, courtesy of Montgomery County Police