Sterling Gas Station Robber On The Run: Police

STERLING, VA — An armed robbery Friday at a gas station in Sterling led to a lockout at nearby schools as Loudoun County sheriff's deputies searched the area for the robber, according to the sheriff's office. The robber remained at large Friday evening, and police detectives were working to determine whether the same individual held up a check-cashing store on Friday in Leesburg.

The Sterling robbery took place shortly after 1 p.m. Friday at the Sunoco station at 716 W. Church Road, a few blocks east of Route 28, the sheriff's office said. The robber entered the store, brandished a firearm, demanded cash, and then fled in an unknown direction.

There were no injuries reported and nothing was stolen, the sheriff's office said.

The suspect is described as a white male who was unshaven and wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the hoodie pulled up.

Deputies searched the area but did not find the individual. As a precaution, schools in the area "were briefly placed on a lockout," the sheriff's office said.

Robbery In Leesburg

Detectives with the sheriff's office are working to determine if the attempted robbery in Sterling is connected to a similar attempted heist in Leesburg.

In that case, the town's Police Department said the would-be robber entered a check-cashing store in the 20 block of Plaza Street NE at around 11:15 a.m. Friday before fleeing on foot.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is working with the Town of Leesburg Police Department in the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective M. Grimsley at 703-777-1021.

Callers wishing to remain anonymous are asked to call Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919 or submit a tip through the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office app. The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.