Aurora police have released several surveillance photographs from the weekend armed robbery of a Far East Side gas station convenience store, the fifth such robbery since Sept. 3.

At around 4:15 a.m. Saturday (Nov. 21, 2015), a masked man entered the 7-11 in the 600 block of South Frontenac Street in the DuPage County section of Aurora; pointed a handgun at the 28 year old clerk, grabbed him by the collar, and led him to the registers where he demanded money. The clerk handed over an undisclosed amount of cash and the suspect ran out the front doors northbound across Ogden Avenue (Route 34). There were no injuries.

The suspect’s race is unknown. He is described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, small to medium build, with all black clothes and a black mask.

The same business was also robbed at about 2:50 a.m. Sept. 3.

In that incident, a man with a scarf over his face entered the business armed with a long gun (rifle or shotgun), approached a 36 year old store employee, pointed the gun at him and demanded money. The clerk handed over an undisclosed amount of cash before the suspect hit him in the head with the gun and ran out the doors. The clerk was treated on the scene and released by Aurora Fire Department Paramedics.

The suspect was described as black, between 5 feet, 10 inches and 6 feet, 2 inches, and weighing between 140 and 170 pounds.

Aurora Police are also investigating convenience store armed robberies that occurred in the early morning hours of Nov. 7, Nov. 4, and Oct. 7. Two of the robberies took place on the Far East Side in DuPage County while the Nov. 4 incident occurred on the Far North East Side in the Kane County portion of the city. Like the incidents on South Frontenac, the suspects are either masked or concealed their faces with bandanas or scarves. It is not clear if vehicles were used in the commissions of the robberies.

At approximately 3:30 a.m. Nov. 7, three men robbed the Thornton’s Gas Station in the 2800 block of Ogden Avenue. The suspects were all described as black males around six feet tall and weighing between 175 and 210 pounds. One of the men was armed with a long gun and one with a handgun. Upon entering the store, one of the robbers punched a 24 year old clerk in the face; then the three led the employee to the register area where they demanded money and the clerk’s cell phone. They made off with an undisclosed amount of cash, the cell phone, a store-owned I-Pad and other items worth about $1530. The clerk was treated by paramedics at the scene, and released.

At around 3:19 a.m. Nov. 4, two men entered the Circle K Gas Station in the 1500 block of Butterfield Road. According to the 23 year old clerk, one of the men threatened him, implied he had a weapon, and demanded money and the clerk’s cell phone. The clerk complied, the men grabbed various items, then exited the store. The men were described as male blacks, both about 5 feet 6 inches. The man who implied he had a weapon weighed about 200 pounds, his accomplice about 150 pounds. There were no injuries. The total loss was set at approximately $1,200.

At approximately 1:50 a.m. Oct.7, a 19-year-old male clerk of the Circle K Gas Station in the 2900 block of East New York Street was approached by a man armed with a long gun while the employee was outside the business. The suspect directed the victim inside and demanded money. After getting an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect ran from the store southbound. The suspect is described as a black male, 6 feet to 6 feet, 2 inches, 150 to 180 pounds, medium build, and spoke with a high-pitched voice. The clerk was not injured.

It is not clear if all of the robberies are related but police believe it is a possibility.

Anyone with information is asked to call Aurora Police Investigators at 630-256-5500 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000. Callers to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and qualify for a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to any arrests. Tips can also be submitted through the Aurora Police Department’s free app available through iTunes, the Android Market, or Amazon App Store. Simply search for “My Police Department”, find the Aurora Police, and download.

SOURCE: Aurora Police Department news release