Cops: 3 overnight convenience store robberies may be connected

Nassau County's Robbery Squad is looking for a masked gunman who they think robbed three different convenience stores in a span of three hours early Tuesday.

Police said in each robbery the suspect used a black handgun to make off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Detectives are investigating the crimes as "part of a possible pattern," a police spokeswoman said.

The first robbery was at 2 a.m. at the Bolla Market at 301 W. Merrick Rd., Freeport, police said.

Then two 7-Eleven stores were robbed, one on E. Merrick Road in Valley Stream at 2:46 a.m. and the other on Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow at 4:42 a.m.

In all three instances, police said, the robber demanded cash and then fled the scene on foot.

In all three robberies, the suspect is described as having a thin build and wearing a black, hooded sweatshirt with black pants and a mask that partially covered his face.

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In one robbery, he's described as 5-feet-5 inches tall; in two others as 5-feet-9 inches tall.

Police are asking anyone with information regarding either robbery to call Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.