(2/24) The armed suspect sought by police in two Thurmont robberies last week may be the same person who committed several robberies in recent weeks in neighboring states.
Thurmont Police Chief Terry Frushour said Tuesday that several similar robberies have occurred in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Frederick city since the end of January.
The first Thurmont robbery occurred at about 9:30 p.m., on Feb. 17 at the Towne and Country Liquor Store, 34 Water St.
The second robbery was at about 10:55 p.m., Sunday, at the Cozy Inn Motel, 103 Frederick Road.
In both cases the description of the suspect was the same, Frushour said.
He described the suspect as a white man, between 5 feet, 7 inches and 6 feet tall, with brown hair, a goatee and wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.
In both instances, the suspect used a pretense to get the cashier, who was alone, to open the register. At the liquor store, he pretended to buy something and at the motel, he asked for change, Frushour said.
The suspect displayed his gun only after the cash registers were open, police said. He then reached into them and took the money. In both cases, the robber fled on foot, Frushour said.
No shots were fired and there were no injuries in either instance.
A search by the Thurmont Police Department and the Frederick County Sheriff's Office yielded no suspects following the liquor store robbery.
The Maryland State Police and the Frederick Police Department K9 Unit joined Thurmont Police and the Sheriff's Office following the robbery at Cozy Inn, but no suspects were located.
Frushour said he has learned about several robberies in Pennsylvania and West Virginia as well as a few in Frederick in recent weeks that may have been committed by the same suspect as those in Thurmont. Law enforcement officials from each area will be working together to review the evidence,
Frushour said.
Frushour informed the town's mayor and board of commissioners at a town meeting Tuesday of the status of the robberies and asked everyone to keep an eye out for anything suspicious.
Mayor Martin Burns asked residents and business owners to call 9-1-1 immediately if they see anything unusual, such as someone lingering around a business or in the parking lot.
"Business owners, don't close up alone. Please don't struggle or fight. We do not want anyone injured in this," Burns said.
