Police release surveillance images of Moto Mart robbery suspect

A fresh blanket of snow on area roads was no deterrent to a suspect who held up a Mascoutah gas station early Wednesday.

Police confirmed that the Moto Mart at 303 E. Main Street was targeted by the robber.

The store’s clerk was robbed of an undetermined amount of money by a male wearing a brown coat and a ski mask. Police say the suspect was armed with a large knife.

The crime happened at about 2:15 a.m. Because the suspect left the store on foot, officers attempted to follow footprints in the snow but were unable to locate the suspect. A Belleville Police Department tracking dog was rushed to the scene and traced the trail of the suspect to a set of fresh tire tracks in the snow where the scent disappeared.

Police say no one else was in the store at the time of the robbery and there were no injuries.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact the Mascoutah Police Department at 618-566-2255.

Check back to BND.com for more information on this breaking story as it becomes available.

This story was originally published January 20, 2016 at 7:39 AM with the headline "Police release surveillance images of Moto Mart robbery suspect."