PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Police in Portsmouth have arrested a man in connection with robberies or attempted robberies at eight businesses within the span of 48 hours, including a Royal Farms, a Dollar General and several 7-Eleven stores. Some of the businesses were robbed within 15 minutes of each other.
The most recent robbery occurred around 9:50 a.m. Monday at Family Dollar.
According to police, a man walked into the Royal Farms in the 3600 block of Victory Boulevard around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday. Once inside, he showed the clerks his gun before taking an undisclosed amount of money, police say.
Police said the same man is accused of robbing or attempting to rob eight businesses in Portsmouth within 48 hours. At each location, police say the man wore the same clothes and implied that he had a firearm. There were no injuries reported at any of the incidents.
The businesses that were targeted are listed below:
- 7-Eleven at the 1800 block of Effingham Street
- 7-Eleven at the 600 block of Frederick Boulevard
- Royal Farms at the 3600 block of Victory Boulevard
- Dollar Tree at the 2000 block of Victory Boulevard
- Dollar General at the 1700 block of Effingham Street
- Family Dollar at the 3400 block of George Washington Highway
- 7-Eleven at the 3500 block of Deep Creek Boulevard
- Family Dollar at the 1500 block of High Street
John Anthony Hendrix, 45, was arrested Tuesday morning in the 1700 block of Chestnut Street.
He’s charged with eight counts of robbery, two counts of attempted robbery, and eight counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Before Hendrix was charged, police released a description of the suspect: a man between 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall. He was seen wearing a blue Under Armour T-shirt, gray pants, a blue medical mask, black shoes with white soles, and on occasion wore a do-rag or baseball hat. Police released surveillance images of the suspect at the businesses. They also provided an image of a vehicle of interest, a blue Chevrolet Cruze.
Suspect in robbery at the Family Dollar located near the 3400 block of George Washington Highway. (Photo provided by Portsmouth Police) 
Suspect in robbery at the Family Dollar located near the 3400 block of George Washington Highway. (Photo provided by Portsmouth Police) 
Suspect in robbery at the Family Dollar located near the 3400 block of George Washington Highway. (Photo provided by Portsmouth Police) 
Suspect in robbery at the Family Dollar located near the 3400 block of George Washington Highway. (Photo provided by Portsmouth Police) 
Royal Farms robbery suspect (photo: Portsmouth police) 
Royal Farms robbery suspect (photo: Portsmouth police) 
Royal Farms robbery suspect (photo: Portsmouth police) 
Royal Farms robbery suspect (photo: Portsmouth police) 
Portsmouth detectives acquired this image of a vehicle of interest in this case. (Photo provided by Portsmouth Police)
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