Skeleton-Masked Thief Strikes Again, Attempts To Rob Drug Store

RALEIGH, N.C. — Police say a man dressed in a skeleton mask tried to rob a drug store early Wednesday morning, changing tactics from robbing ATM customers.

At around 2:30 a.m., a man who fits the description of the skeleton-masked robber walked into the 24-hour CVS store at 3914 Capital Blvd.

The thief tried to open a cash register while an employee was in the back of the store. He was unsuccessful and employees saw him run from the store after the robbery attempt failed.

"I'm not very pleased about it. It's disturbing," CVS customer Annah Snoffner said. "It's right in my neighborhood. I live a couple of blocks up the street. How are you going to be able to come out? It makes you afraid to come out."

The skeleton-masked robber struck four times last week, targeting customers as they took money from drive-up ATM machines. During the robberies, the man typically waits for customers to insert their card and enter their PIN before he runs up, points a gun in their face and demands money.

Last weekend, a man fought back, trying to run over the robber, but the thief managed to move out of the way. On Sunday, the thief didn't wear gloves during a robbery and police might have been able to retrieve his fingerprints from a Wachovia ATM.

The robber is described as a male, possibly white, who is between 6 feet and 6 feet 2 inches tall with a slim build. He was wearing a skeleton mask and brandished a black handgun.

Police do have some surveillance video of the suspect that they think will be helpful in identifying him.

The N.C. Bankers Association is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the robber. Anyone with information that might be helpful to investigators is asked to call the Raleigh Police Department's Detective Division at (919) 890-3555 or CrimeStoppers at (919) 226-2746 (226-CRIME).