DATE: Saturday, August 2, 1997              TAG: 9708020252

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JUNE ARNEY, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   56 lines

POLICE BELIEVE TEAM OF ROBBERS TARGETING AREA AUTO PARTS STORES

Authorities across Hampton Roads are cooperating to find a team of at least two robbers who have targeted Twin B Auto Parts stores and other businesses in recent months.

In each case, a single gunman enters the business with his face concealed by a ski mask, scarf or other disguise.

A lone gunman has struck four times since April at Twin B stores in Chesapeake, according to Dave Hughes, a spokesman for Chesapeake police. Virginia Beach authorities report one similar incident at a Twin B, and Norfolk reports two. An auto parts store in Newport News also was robbed by someone fitting the same description.

``At this point we think it's more than one person, but people working together,'' said Sgt. Tony Zucaro, who heads up the Virginia Beach robbery squad.''

Zucaro said the pattern is a robbery every four to six days.

Authorities provided the following information on robberies at Twin B Auto Parts stores:

On April 29, at 8:50 p.m., a gunman entered the store in the 3300 block of Taylor Road in Chesapeake, carrying a chrome handgun. He was described as a black male, 6-foot-3, 180 pounds. He wore a black leather jacket and a black, hooded sweat shirt. His face was covered with a black scarf.

On May 15, at 8:45 p.m., a gunman entered the store in the 2200 block of S. Military Highway in Chesapeake. He held a .38-caliber revolver. He is described as a black male, in his 20s, 5-foot-9, 150 pounds. He wore a blue jacket and blue jeans with a blue ski mask over his face.

On July 8, about 8:45 p.m., a gunman entered the store in the 1000 block of Bayview Blvd. in Norfolk. He was described as a black male, 5-foot-8, 140 pounds, wearing a tan cap and a black T-shirt. He had something over his face and held a silver handgun.

On July 12, about 6 p.m., a gunman entered the store in the 3900 block of Holland Road in Virginia Beach. He is described as a black male, 6-feet tall with a stocky build. He wore a dark T-shirt and camouflage pants with a mask over his face. He carried a dark revolver.

On July 16, about 7 p.m., a gunman entered the store in the 7700 block of Hampton Blvd. in Norfolk. He was described as a black male, 6-feet tall, with a stocky build and something concealing his face.

On July 21, at 7:17 p.m., a gunman wearing a dark stocking over his face entered the store in the 2200 block of S. Military Highway in Chesapeake. He held a small, black handgun. He is described as a black male, 5-foot-6, and 190 pounds. He wore a gray T-shirt, tan pants and an orange baseball cap.

On July 30, at 5:25 p.m., a gunman entered the store in the 3300 block of Taylor Road in Chesapeake with his face covered with a dark scarf. He held a dark-colored revolver with wood grips. He is described as a black male, about 5-foot-9, 150 pounds. He wore a long-sleeved white T-shirt, dark pants and a black baseball cap.

Virginia Beach also reports similar robberies at a drugstore, sporting goods store and a motel. KEYWORDS: ROBBERY

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