Armed robber hits Fairview Heights gas station

Fairview Heights Police say “the similarities are there” between the suspect in the Sept. 30 armed robbery of a Swansea gas station and the man who police say robbed the Circle K at 10070 Bunkum Road in Fairview Heights early Monday.

Police received a call reporting the robbery at 12:13 a.m. The suspect, who wore a Washington Redskins pullover sweatshirt, dark pants, white shoes and a red handkerchief over his mouth and who brandished a silver revolver, approached the clerk and demanded cash. The clerk complied with the robber’s demands and was not hurt. The robber then ran off eastbound and was last seen running through a parking lot toward a nearby apartment complex.

Fairview Heights Police Lt. Mike Hoguet said neighbors reported seeing a car speed out of the apartment complex and turn onto Lincoln Trail shortly after the robbery occurred.

“Same shirt, same gun, same bandana,” Hoguet said. “The similarities are there.”

The robbery occurred less than a quarter mile from Fairview Heights Police headquarters.

Hoguet said Fairview Heights Police are working with Swansea Police, who along with the FBI are investigating the robbery of the Phillips 66 station at 2400 N. Illinois St. that occurred on Sept. 30.

Surveillance footage from that robbery shows a man wearing a similar Redskins shirt entering the business and quickly drawing a handgun at 4:17 a.m. Police say the man ordered a clerk and a customer behind the counter before demanding cash. After the clerk complied with the robber’s demand, the robber was last seen running eastbound on Parkway Drive.

Anyone with information about either robbery is encouraged to call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS. Tipsters can call Fairview Heights Police at 618-489-2130 and Swansea Police at 618-233-8114.

This story was originally published October 19, 2015 at 5:36 PM with the headline "Armed robber hits Fairview Heights gas station."