Following the latest crime in a string of violent incidents in the area, Albemarle County Police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred late Sunday night at the Top 100 Video Store on Hydraulic Road.
Police received a call shortly before midnight Sunday reporting the robbery and officers responded within a few minutes, Ablemarle County Police Lt. John R. Teixeira said.
According to police, a black male entered the store with a handgun and ordered the clerk to lay down on the floor. The man then took money from the cash drawer.
Teixeira said that "it was a fair amount" of money, but declined to comment on the exact amount taken.
Police said the man was "wearing a Halloween hockey mask, camouflage pants and dark shirt." Teixeira said no additional description was available and that police have no suspects.
He said that it appears the robbery was carried out by a single individual and was not the work of a group.
This armed robbery follows three other similar incidents that took place in the Charlottesville area in the past few weeks. A male University student was assaulted and held at gunpoint outside Courtenay dormitory late Sunday night, and armed robberies recently occurred at a local Arby's fast food restaurant and 7-11 convenience store.
"Any time we have a series of robberies like this we would look to see if there's a connection," said Lee Catlin, Albemarle County Police Department spokesperson. But nothing has yet suggested a relationship between the various incidents, Catlin said.
Teixeira said local residents and shopkeepers should use caution in order to decrease the chance for further incidents.
He said people should lock their doors, install good lighting systems and pay attention to customers as they enter stores.
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