AHOSKIE – The Ahoskie Police Department is looking to solve a recent string of breaking-and-entering crimes involving larceny.

One of the incidents involved a weapon while another was an attempted crime, also with a firearm.

Ahoskie Police Chief Troy Fitzhugh said an armed robbery occurred at 10 p.m. on Sept. 4 at the Ahoskie Internet Café, located in the Ahoskie Commons Shopping Center.

There, three black males, one armed with a handgun and all wearing masks over their faces, entered the business. The armed suspect, he said, jumped over the counter at which time the handgun fell to the floor and discharged a single round before the suspect reached down to retrieve the firearm. No one was struck by that bullet.

In his report, APD Sgt. Clifton Whitby said an undisclosed amount of money was stolen.

The only other description of the suspects was that one was wearing a camouflaged coat.

Three days prior to that incident, three black males, all wearing red and black bandanas covering their faces and hair, attempted to break into Anchor Insurance Company, located on Sunset Street, shortly after 5 p.m. on Sept. 1.

One of the suspects was reportedly carrying an assault rifle, according to Fitzhugh.

“The employees of the business saw the three suspects outside, who then attempted to open the front door of the business, but it was locked,” Fitzhugh said. “The employees activated the alarm system and the three suspects drove away in a black colored vehicle. We arrived on the scene and searched the area with a K-9, but were unable to locate the suspects.”

In late August, ABC Skills, located in the 2000 block of US 13 South, was the scene of two breaking-and-entering cases, both ending in the larceny of a business safe. An undisclosed amount of money was reportedly inside the safe.

Fitzhugh said the first crime at that location was reported at 9:45 a.m. on Aug. 26. Entry was made by breaking a glass in the front door.

One day later (Aug. 27), APD Sgt. Rose Mizelle was on patrol at 6 a.m. in the area of the same business and noted it was secure at that time (the broken window had been replaced temporarily by a sheet of plywood).

“At 8:36 am, Sgt. Mizelle rode by the business again and noticed the other pane of glass broken on the front door,” Fitzhugh said. “Upon calling in an employee of the business, it was discovered that the store safe had been stolen again.”

Fitzhugh said surveillance video at the business shows one black male entering the establishment on both occasions.

“We are working diligently to solve all these cases, as well as some breaking-and-entering cases in the Colonial Acres part of town,” Fitzhugh stated. “We are making every effort to arrest the person or persons responsible for these crimes.”

He added that anyone with information on these cases are encouraged to contact the Ahoskie Police Department at 252-332-5011 and ask to speak to Lt. Jeremy Roberts or Detective Justin Farmer.