Masked men unsuccessful in robbery attempt

January 10, 2002

Masked men unsuccessful in robbery attempt

Charles Town, W.Va.

By DAVE McMILLION / Staff Writer, Charles Town

Two employees at a 7-Eleven store along W.Va. 115 east were ordered on the floor of the store early Wednesday morning while one of two masked men tried to open a safe, police said.

It is believed the two men, including one wielding a handgun, arrived at the convenience store at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue by car, said Charles Town Police Chief Mike Aldridge.

After entering the store at 2:41 a.m., one of the men placed the two female clerks on the floor while the second man went behind the counter to a safe, Aldridge said.

The man tried to open the safe but was unsuccessful, said Aldridge.

The man at the safe then yelled to his partner and they left the store, said Aldridge.

A police dog unit from the Martinsburg Police Department tracked a scent of the two men around the building but it stopped after a short distance, said Aldridge.

"Obviously, there was a car there," said Aldridge.

There was a string of at least six robberies in the Charles Town area last year, but Aldridge said he does not think this incident is related.

"This is a different (mode of operation). We've never seen one like this before," said Aldridge.

Aldridge said the men were only in the store for 16 seconds, adding they operated like "gang busters."

Police were able to make an arrest which solved a number of the robberies last year, Aldridge said.

The six robberies last year occurred at a motel parking lot, a convenience store, a gas station, a motel and a two restaurants, police said.

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