LAKEWOOD, Wash. — The Lakewood Police Department (LPD) is searching for a group of "armed and dangerous" suspects accused of at least four armed robberies over the weekend.
Surveillance camera images of the accused suspects were included in a social media post on Sunday night from Lakewood police, who said the group hit at least four convenience stores over a 24-hour period.
Around 7 p.m. on Sunday, three young adults robbed a Mobil gas station located in the 3700 block of Steilacoom Boulevard. The three individuals took cash and vape items from the Lakewood gas station.
Later the same evening, robberies by a group matching the suspects' description were reported at several other gas stations in unincorporated Pierce County, according to Sgt. Charles Porche of the Lakewood Police Department.
The suspects are described as young adults, ranging from 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-10 with slim builds. The suspects allegedly are carrying a semi-automatic pistol and a knife.
All three were wearing masks, which is why the Lakewood police are asking for the public's help in identifying the three young adults.
Police said the suspects were driving a stolen dark-blue Kia vehicle. The use of stolen cars makes it harder for police to track suspects, Porche said.
Porche called these types of robberies "difficult to prevent," saying it takes community awareness and reporting, and cooperation across jurisdictions.
"It does happen more regularly than we would like," said Porche.
Convenience stores targeted
Twenty-four-hour convenience stores have become frequent targets of armed robbers in recent months across western Washington, with groups of suspects often targeting a number of locations in a short time frame.
In July, a customer at a Lynnwood 7-Eleven was shot in the leg trying to intervene as a group of suspects exited following an armed robbery.
In June, three teens robbed a 7-Eleven in South Hill at gunpoint and then tried to flee on foot when eventually confronted by officers.
Five days after those suspects were apprehended, three more convenience stores were hit, including one in Burien where a suspect fired a shot at a clerk.
Back in May, 7-Eleven owners spoke to KING 5 about how the recent rash of brazen armed robberies at its locations has impacted business.
"It's been so rapidly rising that it has been kind of getting out of control," said Chander Shekher, president of the 7-Eleven Franchisee Owners' Association of the Northwest.
Shekher said not only is it harder to retain employees with so many armed robberies, but attracting customers to the stores overnight is also becoming increasingly difficult.
"People are scared to come to convenience stores at night because they are not sure if criminal activity like robbery etc. are taking place there or not," he told KING 5.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.