PRESS RELEASE Armed Robberies Citizens Alert 07/13/2010             The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office is stressing to the public to be vigilant of your surroundings when out in public and when returning to your homes. On two separate occasions residents have reported being robbed at gunpoint after leaving the Wal-Mart on Spence Avenue in Goldsboro, NC and returning to their homes. On July 12, 2010 a 20 year old female and a friend left the pva of the Wal-Mart on Spence Avenue at approximately 3:45a.m. On their way to their residence they noticed a vehicle that appeared to be following them. When they arrived at their residence on Herman Lane Road in Stantonsburg, NC, the vehicle drove by. As the victims were exiting their car a black male dressed in dark clothing with an orange bandana around his face ran from a nearby field with a gun and demanded money. After robbing the victims he told them to go inside the residence. He fired a shot from the gun, (not at the victim’s) and fled from the scene. A witness reported an older model dark colored Buick in the area at the time of the robbery.             On July 13, 2010, a 48 year old male reported that he left the Wal-Mart at approximately 1:15a.m. and drove to his home on Worth Drive, Goldsboro, NC. When he arrived at his home and exited his vehicle he heard a voice yelling at him to get down. He then saw a black male dressed in dark clothing with a bright orange bandana around his face armed with a handgun. The suspect pointed the gun at the victim, threatening him and demanded everything the victim had. After the victim was robbed the suspect fled on foot towards Highway 111.                    In both incidents the suspect is described as a black male, approximately 5 foot 9 inches, weighing approximately 160 pounds, short hair, medium build,, 17-25 years of age, dressed in dark clothing with the bright orange bandana covering his face.             Sheriff C. A. Winders stated, “Please be aware of your surroundings, especially when returning to your homes. It is obvious by the similarity of these two cases that the same person or persons are involved. If you believe you have someone following you, do not go directly to your home. Stay in a public area the best you can, drive around, call 911 and get a law enforcement officer to stop the vehicle following you. Get a good description of the vehicle, including license plate number if possible. DO NOT stop and confront the persons in the vehicle. I am also requesting anyone that has information of the persons that are possibly involved in these situations to either contact the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office at 919-731-1481 or Wayne County Crimestoppers at 919-735-2255.”