Area investigators are looking for suspects in two separate incidents that took place Monday night, both involving suspects seeking to victimize local businesses.

Sampson County Sheriff’s investigators are on the hunt for the man who went into Sanderson’s Kwik Stop, 8246 Turkey Highway, Turkey, and attempted to rob the store.

A male and female clerk, ages 49 and 51, respectively, stated in reports that an unknown black male, wearing a white cloth around his mouth, entered the store at 9:25 p.m., pointed a gun at the workers and asked them to turn away from the counter.

The clerks did as they were told, reports show.

After a few minutes of silence, the female clerk carefully glanced at a video monitor in the store, that was in view behind the counter, and noticed that the suspect, who never demanded anything else, was gone.

No one was injured in the incident.

According to officials with the sheriff’s department, investigators are currently examining surveillance tapes, while owners of the store complete an inventory to see what exactly was taken.

The suspect, who was wearing a blue coat at the time of the incident, was identified asbeing 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing approximately 130 pounds.

IAnyone with information on this crime should call 910-592-4141.

Clinton store robbed

Arma Variety and Tobacco Store, located at 1212 Sunset Ave., Clinton, was also the victim of two incidents Monday.

Investigators say they don’t believe the Sanderson incident is related to those which occured at Arma.

According to reports from the Clinton Police Department, the first incident took place at 10:07 a.m. when an unknown male entered the store and damaged a computer, two credit card machines and a Samsung phone, causing a total of $350 in damage.

Later that night, at 6:30 p.m., a male entered the store, reportedly punched owner Arma Said, 57, in the face and took off with the cash register with an undisclosed amount of cash inside.

Said suffered “minor” injuries during the incident, reports show.

Officials were not clear if the two same-day incidents at the tobacco store were related.

Those with information on this crime should call 910- 592-3105.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.