Albany Police Department investigates attempted armed robbery on Dawson Road
Dollar General on Dawson Road hit by attempted armed robbery day after pawn shop robbery
By Jennifer Parks
ALBANY — The Albany Police Department is investigating an attempted armed robbery from Sunday evening on Dawson Road, the second such robbery to be reported in Albany in two days.
Phyllis Banks, a spokeswoman for the APD, said a call came in 8:52 p.m. on Sunday indicating that the Dollar General at 1411 Dawson Road had been the target of an attempted armed robbery.
Banks said the suspect, described as a black male about 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-10 and dressed in all dark clothing, armed with a handgun and wearing a clown mask, entered the store and demanded money at gunpoint. When the clerks could not open the register, the subject fired one shot then fired more shots as he exited the business.
Banks said no injuries were reported and nothing was taken. Police remained in the area in the hours immediately after the incident conducting a search for the subject.
Residents in the area should be on alert and report any suspicious activity to police, Banks said.
The armed robbery attempt comes a day after a similar incident at Quick Cash Pawn Shop at 1553 N. Slappey Blvd. That robbery took place at 4:10 p.m. on Saturday. Officers responded to the location regarding two men, possibly in their 20s, robbing the business and then leaving in a white rental truck or van, taking cash, guns and a cellphone, Banks said.
The victim told police that two men walked around the store, waiting for customers to leave. Once the customers had gone, one of the men held an employee at gunpoint then constrained him, Banks said.
Banks said the suspects took the victim’s personal handgun, his cell phone, wallet and guns from the business. Before leaving, the suspects sprayed pepper spray in the victim’s face.
Witnesses outside said the men were in a small U-Haul truck or van. The case was turned over to investigators, and paramedics were called to the scene to treat the employee who was sprayed, Banks said.
Anyone with tip information can call APD at (229) 431-2100 or Albany Area CrimeStoppers at (229) 436-TIPS (8477).
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