3 Mesa businesses robbed on same day

Three Mesa businesses were robbed Thursday in unrelated cases.

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One robbery involved two men with guns, another involved a knife-wielding assailant and the third involved someone pretending to have a firearm.

Police believe the robbery with the knife is connected to a fourth robbery early Friday that led to a barricade situation and an arrest at the suspect’s house.

WALGREENS ROBBERY

The first robbery occurred about 3:50 a.m. at a Walgreens at 6002 E. Main St. When officers arrived at the drugstore, they saw employees had locked themselves in the office.

Officers did not locate the assailant, but he was seen on surveillance video robbing the store with what appeared to be a chef’s knife.

After taking cash from the clerk, the man ran north through the parking lot.

He is described as white, 35 to 45 years old, 5-foot-10 to 6 feet tall and 250 pounds, possibly with red hair, and he wore a tan baseball cap, black jacket, light blue dress shirt untucked, dark jeans and black shoes.

His face had not been shaved for days and he also wore some type of eyeglasses.

LATINO MARKET ROBBERY

In a second incident at the Guate Latino Market at 712 E. Main St., two men walked in and one took an energy drink off a shelf and approached the counter.

He handed the clerk a $5 bill, but then both men pulled out handguns when the clerk opened the drawer to get change. After the men took the money, they asked for more and were led to the back of the store through a door leading to another store.

In the other store, there were two witnesses and a large, loud barking dog, so the assailants ran away.

They were last seen heading west on Pepper.

One robber is described as Hispanic, 5-foot-9, 160 pounds, 19 to 22 years old with a dark complexion and clean-shaven wide face. He also had moles and freckles on the left side of his face and wore a brown sweatshirt with lettering.

The other robber is described as Hispanic, 20 to 21 years old with black hair and wore a black sweatshirt and gray baseball cap.

SUBWAY ROBBERY

The third robbery occurred at Subway, 2722 S. Alma School Road, when a man walked into the store and asked the clerk for change. As the clerk opened the register, the man simulated a gun and took money.

He left in a white Ford Explorer, possibly a 2000 model four-door. Police did not find him.

He is described as Hispanic, 30 to 35 years old, 5-foot-10 to 6 feet tall with a medium build, short dark hair, a clean-shaven face and a blue, long-sleeved shirt with blue jeans.