In the same weekend as the ninth regional armed robbery and second attempted robbery since July 22, police announced a reward of up to $2,000 for information regarding the robberies in Blair and Centre counties.
The Central Mountains Robbery Task Force, composed of local and state police officers, troopers and detectives, stated in a press release Friday that it is offering reward money through Centre County Crimestoppers and Crimestoppers of Blair County for information leading to an arrest.
"The robberies began on July 22, 2007, and since then, seven businesses in Centre and Blair counties have been targeted by the assailant," the press release stated. Businesses in Clinton and Huntingdon counties have also been targeted.
The task force described the robber as a white man between 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet tall with a thin build, possibly with acne and possibly left-handed, according to the release.
The release also said the man has worn black clothes, black shoes, black gloves and bandanas that are black and red. His weapon was described in the release as a black, possibly semiautomatic, handgun.
At about 1:45 p.m. Friday, the same day the task force announced the reward money offer, an attempted robbery occurred at Kish Bank, 5473 McAlevy's Fort Road, in McAlvey's Fort, according to a Pennsylvania State Police press release.
The armed robber -- described as a white man wearing a black T-shirt, black pants, a black "du-rag" on his head and a black handkerchief covering his face -- ran up to the door of the bank and tried to pull the door open, the release stated.
The door to the bank was locked, and when the suspect found he couldn't enter, he ran away from the bank, police reported.
The suspect was carrying a handgun in his left hand and was further described to be thin and between 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall, according to the release.
State police in Huntingdon stated in the release that they believe the incident is connected to the robberies that have recently occurred in the surrounding area.
At about 1:30 p.m. Saturday, the ninth armed robbery in the area occurred at Raible's Pharmacy, 260 Main St., in Mill Hall, according to another Pennsylvania State Police press release.
A man entered the pharmacy and, displaying a handgun, demanded money, the press release stated. The cashier gave the man an undisclosed amount of money and the robber fled the scene, witnesses told police.
According to the press release, the man was between 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 10 inches with a slim build and wearing all black clothing with one black bandana covering his head and one covering his face. His gun was described in the release as a semiautomatic pistol.
Cpl. Brian Diffenbaugh, of the state police in Lamar, said it is unclear if the suspect in this robbery is connected to the recent robberies in Centre Region.
"It probably is, but we can't say for sure," he said. "The description of the suspect is the same."
As more stores are being robbed, owners of convenience stores are growing more cautious.
Police received three calls over the weekend relating to suspicious vehicles parked outside of their stores.
The owner of a Uni-Mart, 401 S. Pugh St., became suspicious of a primered vehicle -- matching previous descriptions of the suspect's vehicle -- in the convenience store's parking lot at about 11 a.m. Thursday, State College police said.
The owner took pictures of the vehicle on his cell phone and told police the driver never got out of the car, but was acting strangely and kept checking his rearview mirror, police said.
Police were called about a suspicious vehicle across from a State College Choice Cigarette Discount Outlet, police said. Upon inspection, the car contained a couple having a discussion, police said.
Police were also called to a Boalsburg Uni-Mart on Boal Ave. in response to a suspicious person in a vehicle across from the store at about 10:20 p.m. Saturday, police said, though the vehicle had left by the time police arrived.
