The Weldon Police Department is investigating a robbery which occurred shortly before 8:15 p.m. Sunday at the Family Dollar on Second Street and the Northampton County Sheriff's Office is investigating one which occurred shortly after 11:45 p.m.

It appears the one in Northampton may involve the same suspect as one in Roanoke Rapids earlier Sunday night but Weldon Police Chief Mark Macon could not confirm whether the robbery his department is investigating is related.

Macon said the suspect in the Family Dollar robbery entered the store wearing a dark blue hooded jacket and blue jeans and demanded money from the cashier. The man instead took money from a customer standing in line and fled the store.

A canine track traced his scent to Sixth Street.

Macon said witnesses observed that the man, between 18 and 25 and standing approximately 6 feet, 1 inches tall kept pulling the strings of the hood while keeping one hand around his crotch area as if he had a gun.

Northampton County Sheriff Wardie Vincent said around 11:45 p.m. a person matching the same description of the Roanoke Rapids suspect, with the exception of the jacket description, walked into the Village Grocery at Interstate 95 and Highway 46 and demanded the clerk give him money.

The clerk complied and the suspect left the store on foot and was seen going to the hotel. Vincent said the clerk then observed a dark car leaving the area.

As in the Roanoke Rapids robbery the suspect, a light skinned black male, was wearing black stonewashed jeans and a white towel. Instead of a purplish jacket as in the Roanoke Rapids robbery, he was said to be wearing a gray hooded jacket.

The suspect appeared to have something that appeared to be a gun in his hand.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Weldon Police Department at 252-536-3136, the Northampton County Sheriff's Office at 252-534-2611, Northampton Crimestoppers at 252-534-1110 or Halifax County Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.