Robber With Sawed-Off Shotgun Strikes Wayne Stores

The first robbery happened exactly a month ago Friday, and the most recent took place Thursday at a Kangaroo Express gas station along U.S. Highway 70 in Wayne County.

Five of the robberies occurred in Goldsboro and three in the county.

Surveillance videos show the same scene playing out: A man bursts into a convenience store with a gun, sticks it in the clerk's face and demands cash and cigarettes. The robber has asked for boxes of Newport cigarettes each time, police said.

"He's obviously carrying a weapon; more than likely it's loaded," Sgt. Chad Calloway, with the Goldsboro police, said. "It would be very easy for it to result in someone being injured or killed."

The robber disappears quickly from the scene each time, most probably driving a vehicle. Detectives believe the same man has committed all the robberies in far-flung locations.

Detectives hope the robber's distinctive gun will help them crack the case.

"The sawed-off shotgun appears to have duct tape over what he's using as the handle," Calloway said.

Investigators said they are working with a limited description of the suspect.

In the first six robberies, he wore gloves, a bandanna over his face and a camouflaged jacket with the hood pulled up. He has worn a gray jacket in the most recent two robberies.

The Goldsboro Police Department and Wayne County Sheriff's Office are working together in the investigation.