Police say a masked man robbed the River Street Food Mart yesterday - the second time the store was hit in one week - in what has become a string of small store thefts in the area.
"He demanded money from the register and (the co-owner) complied," said Lt. Steven Champion said.
Police say the suspect's description and the situation of last night's robbery match those of three store robberies last week.
"He was in and out" when he robbed the mart at 220 River St. just before 4 p.m., Champion said of yesterday's holdup.
The suspect yesterday did not act as though he had a weapon, Champion said.
In the previous robbery at the store, a masked man demanding money gave the impression he was armed.
Since the last robbery, the store owners have installed a video camera and now have video surveillance from yesterday police are reviewing, Champion said.
The man took an undetermined amount of cash, then ran out the door, across the street, down a neighbor's driveway and continued through backyards, Champion said.
Police knocked on doors, asking neighbors if they had seen the suspect, but no one did, he said.
The suspect is described as a young white man, 5-feet, 4-inches tall, in his 20s, wearing a black mask and dark hooded sweatshirt, said Champion.
"Basically, the suspect matches the description of the previous robberies. We believe they're linked," Champion said.
A white, masked man, about the same height and wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt robbed River Street Food Mart at 5:45 p.m. last Wednesday, the Banks Square Shell Station on Oct. 26 at 10:15 p.m. and the Shah Dollar Store at 368 Moody St. three hours earlier on the same day, police said.
"Every one of them have been women working alone," Champion said.
Champion encouraged all store owners to have at least two employees staffing businesses - "anything they can do for an extra deterrent."
Police are stepping up patrols in the area, and at variety stores in general, he said.
Officers will make a point to regularly go into stores as well, he said.
"I'd encourage workers to comply with the robber's demands and not make any heroic efforts. Lock the doors and call 911, and let us do the crime-fighting," Champion said.
Joyce Kelly can be reached at 781-398-8005 or jkelly@cnc.com.
