Police warn about string of hotel robberies

A police spokesman said six robberies have occurred in Raleigh since Sunday. Another robbery happened in Cary, and two others were reported in Garner.

In each case, the robber was masked, often by a white or light-colored cloth, and showed or implied that he had a weapon.

"We think they are all connected," said Lt. Steve Wilkins of the Cary Police Department. "We think it is the same suspect."

There have been no reports of injuries, but authorities want to catch the man before someone gets hurt.

"His luck is going to run out, and we are going to find him, or he is going to continue to become more and more violent," Wilkins said.

Friday's robberies happened at the Comfort Suites, at 4440 Capital Blvd., at 12:47 a.m.; Sheraton Hotel, at 421 S. Salisbury St., at 5:37 a.m.; and Red Roof Inn, at 1813 S. Saunders St., at 5:53 a.m.

The Wingate Inn, at 2610 Westinghouse Blvd., was robbed Tuesday at 7:38 p.m.; the Comfort Inn, at 2539 S. Saunders St., at 7:25 p.m. on Monday; and the Rodeway Inn, at 2641 Appliance Court, at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday.

In Cary, the Hilton Doubletree, near Crossroads Plaza shopping center, was robbed shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Details of the Garner robberies weren't available Friday.

At the Sheraton in downtown Raleigh, guests were using common sense to stay safe.

Ned Willett, visiting from Harlowe, said, "We told our kids to stay in numbers and always go somewhere together and watch each other's back and not to go alone."

Kevin Nixon, in Raleigh with his family for the Pop Warner Mid-South Regional Football Championship, said, "I have never had any problems, so I guess it is pretty safe."

Wilkins and his law enforcement colleagues want to keep it that way.

"We don't want to see anybody get hurt," he said.

Anyone with information about the crimes can contact Raleigh Crime Stoppers at 919-834-4357, the Cary Police Department at 919-469-4012 or Cary Crime Stoppers at 919-226-2746.

Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solve cases.