Cops seek suspect in armed gas station robberies

Suffolk County police said Monday they believe a man with a handgun who robbed a gas station in Bayport last month was the same man who robbed one gas station and tried to rob another two weeks earlier.

In the most recent crime, the man robbed USA Gasoline at 698 Montauk Hwy. about 10:40 p.m. Feb. 19 and fled with cash and cellphones, police said.

Suffolk County police released video surveillance last month from the robbery of OK Petroleum at 2549 Montauk Hwy. in Brookhaven just after 9 p.m. on Feb. 4.

In that video, the suspect, wearing a hooded coat, entered the gas station store, displayed a semi-automatic handgun, then stole cash from the register.

Police said the robbery occurred not long after the same suspect attempted to rob a Valero station at 1164 Montauk Hwy. in East Patchogue, but fled that station when the clerk refused to comply.

Police are asking anyone with information about the crimes to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-220-8477.

All calls are confidential and police said a cash reward of up to $5,000 is available for any information leading to an arrest.