Lower Paxton Township, Pa. - Police in three counties are actively searching for suspects in a recent wave of armed robberies. Most of the crimes involved a large 12-inch knife, police said.

All told, police believe the same group of people may be responsible for 10 robberies in Dauphin, Cumberland, and York Counties.

On Friday evening, a woman was robbed in the parking lot of the UPS Store on Linglestown Road in Lower Paxton Township. The suspect, who police believe was armed with a knife, took her purse and pushed her to the ground.

"She's a little sore," said Chris Koup, who works across the parking lot and called 911 after the holdup. "Her head's sore, her jaw's sore. Other than that she's doing pretty well."

About 12 hours later, around 6 a.m., there were two more similar holdups in the Dover area. A suspect with a 12-inch knife robbed a clerk at  gas station kiosk at Hake's grocery store. A few minutes later, police believe the same man robbed the Rutter's Farm Store on East Canal Street.

The suspect was seen fleeing in a red car, police said.

Police suspect the person, or more likely group of people, have also struck recently in East Pennsboro Township, Fairview Township, Swatara Township, Susquehanna Township, Hampden Township, and Camp Hill Borough.

In the Fairview Township holdup at a Turkey Hill, the suspect was armed with a gun, police said.

The suspects are described as young white males. Their faces are always hidden behind masks or bandannas.

"There's a very real chance somebody is going to get hurt," said Lower Paxton Township Police Lt. Gary Seefeldt.

Seefeldt added that there doesn't seem to be a pattern to the robberies.

"There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it," Seefeldt said.

Seefeldt said it's alarming and "brazen" that the suspects are choosing to rob stores during peak hours, when customers are almost certain to be around.

He also said he believes the suspects "case the joint" before they strike. He urges anyone who sees someone suspicious to call 911 right away.

Koup said he believes someone cased the gym he works for the day before the UPS Store robbery. He said a man came in holding a GPS unit. He said the man was acting strange and asked him about the gym's hours. 

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest in the case.

 

 Email To Friend