Cops look for couple after robberies

COLONIE - Two overnight robberies in Schenectady and Colonie could be connected to similar incidents last month. All cases involve gas stations robbed late at night by a man and woman working together.

"It is unusual for us to see a male and female team," Colonie Police Lt. Robert Winn said.

Just after 1:30 a.m. Monday police say a man and a woman held up the Gulf Mega Mart on Central Avenue.

With a black hooded jacket and a blue bandana covering his face, the man pointed his semiautomatic handgun at the stunned clerk. The woman hopped the counter and grabbed cash and cigarettes before the two took off on foot.

"These are notoriously easy targets with only one person working. At that time of night its fairly desolate, not a lot of customers, not a lot of witnesses," Winn said.

Just 45 minutes later and six and a half miles down the road in Schenectady, police believe the same two knocked off a Sunoco Food Mart on Albany Street.

This time it actually got violent. Police says during a struggle, the gun was actually discharged and the store clerk was eventually pistol whipped.

Once again, the woman hopped over the counter and made off with $90.

It's not just these two early morning robberies that are believed to be connected. Police in Colonie say this same duo was behind another hold up last week.

The surveillance video from late Thursday night is nearly identical. The pair, once again with hoods and masks covering their faces, rob a 24-hour gas station, grabbing around $400 before splitting.

"Very similar descriptions, very similar methods of operation, where one displays the handgun, the other person vaults over the counter, taking money from the cash register," Winn said.

Police in both Colonie and Schenectady would like to hear from anyone with information regarding these late night robberies.