MANCHESTER, NH –Police are investigating two recent convenience store robberies.
Officer Derek Cataldo responded to Shawn’s Corner Market, 912 Somerville St., on December 14, approximately 8:40 p.m. after a panic alarm alerted police. He spoke with store clerk Dinash Gandhi, 66.
Gandhi stated he was standing behind the counter when the suspect walked in and jumped over the counter and began a physical confrontation. The suspect armed with a knife was ordering him to open the cash drawer as Gandhi fought with him. After opening the drawer, the suspect grabbed an undisclosed amount of cash and fled on foot.
The robber was last seen wearing a gray-and-black checkered winter coat, blue jeans and a tan mask. Contact Manchester Police Detectives at 668-8711 or Manchester Crimeline at 624-4040 if you recognize the individual.
A second robbery occurred at 2:50 a.m. Dec. 15 at 7-Eleven, 117 Queen City Ave. The clerk, Debora Root, 47, was working when the robber walked in and approached the counter.
Root said she was standing near the coffee aisle when the suspect walked in, so she walked toward the counter. The robber told her to open the cash register drawer as Root walked behind the counter. Root told the robber to leave the store as she grabbed her cell phone and locked herself inside the office.
The robber attempted to open the office door before making an attempt to open the cash register drawer, but he failed, so he left the store without any cash or merchandise. Manchester police officers responded once Root reported the robbery from her cell phone.
She could not provide the man’s ethnicity, but stated he was approximately 5-foot-9 inches tall with an unknown build and was last seen wearing a black colored jacket with a black hooded sweatshirt underneath. He was wearing the hood and also had a gray mask covering his face. He wore dark-colored gloves, black shoes and blue jeans during the robbery. As she was inside of the office, she did not see him leave the store. It is unknown if he fled on foot or in a vehicle.
Manchester Police Detectives are following up on both robberies. It is unknown if they are connected at this time.
