Advance America store robbed Thursday in Front Royal, may be related to other robberies

FRONT ROYAL – The Front Royal Police Department is investigating a Thursday afternoon robbery that may be connected to a rash of robberies occurring within the last week in the region.   A media release from the department states that this afternoon at 1:40 p.m. a call came in regarding a robbery at the Advance America Cash Advance store located at 232 Remount Road, in the Gateway Plaza shopping center.  Police say the first officer was on scene at approximately 1:43 p.m.

The release states that “a black male, approximately 6’0”, 250 lbs, wearing a gray shirt, blue jeans and a dark colored baseball cap entered Advance America and demanded money from the employees.”   The suspect reportedly carried a black satchel and left the business with an undisclosed amount of money and fled on foot in the direction of John Marshall Highway.

Fauquier County sheriff’s deputies responded to an Advance America branch in Warrenton approximately 90 minutes after Front Royal’s robbery and took a suspect in custody.  Detectives were able to confirm that the suspect was the same subject who committed the robbery in Front Royal.

This robbery may be related to a robbery of the Allied Cash Advance Store in Winchester that occurred today at approximately 12:40 p.m. on Weems Lane and may also be connected to a Wednesday robbery in Leesburg and a Saturday robbery in Centerville.

Captain Crystal Cline, reached by telephone early Thursday evening,  said the investigation continues and a felony robbery warrant would be sought in connection with the case.  The identity of the subject is being withheld at this time due to the number of investigations involved.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Detective M. Ramey at 540-636-2208 or email at mramey@frontroyalva.com.