DATE: Wednesday, November 26, 1997          TAG: 9711260529

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   40 lines

COURTS & CRIME [BRIEFS]

SUFFOLK

Two masked gunmen rob a convenience store on North Main Street

Two men with semi-automatic handguns robbed a convenience store on North Main Street Tuesday morning, police said.

The suspects entered the Holiday Food Store in the 1500 block of N. Main St. about 6:30 a.m. and demanded money, said police spokesman Mike Simpkins. The clerk gave them an undisclosed amount of cash from the register, and they left out the rear door, he said.

The suspects were described as black, between 18 and 20, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, and 170 to 190 pounds. One was wearing a white T-shirt and a white apron, similar to a butcher's, and had a white handkerchief over his mouth. The other had on a black ski mask.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 925-6350 or Crime Line at 539-1222.

Gunman restrains victim, escapes with car, money

A gunman forced his way into a house Tuesday afternoon, tied up the owner and robbed him of money and his truck, police said.

The incident happened about 4:30 p.m. in the 3400 block of Labrador Lane in the Princeview Point subdivision near Lake Prince. The robber knocked on the door, then pushed the 69-year-old owner backward when he opened the door, said police spokesman Mike Simpkins. The intruder tied the man's ankles with electrical cord, slapped him several times and told him to lie still, Simpkins said.

The suspect took an undisclosed amount of cash and drove off in the man's 1975 blue Ford pickup, heading north on Labrador Lane.

The truck was later recovered not far away on Girl Scout Road.

The suspect was described as white, about 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a medium build. He was wearing a gray stocking mask, blue jeans and a dark sweater and was carrying a large silver handgun.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 925-6350 or Crime Line at 539-1222.

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