WALTERS—Convenience stores in Walters and Wakefield were held up within six hours of each other overnight, authorities reported.

The owner of J.B. Food Mart at 29463 Walters Highway, Carrsville, was robbed at gunpoint just before closing at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday, said Isle of Wight Sheriff’s Det. J.P. Hopko.

The 7-Eleven in Wakefield at 103 W. Main St. was hit at about 3:30 a.m. today.

Hopko believes the same suspect did both robberies and is also responsible for armed robberies on July 19 at the 7-Eleven on Carrsville Highway next to Joe’s Pizza and Pasta Palace outside Franklin and a 7-Eleven in Sussex one day later.

“The guy is left handed and said the same exact stuff (to the cashier) — ‘give me all of your f…… money. This ain’t no joke,’” Hopko said.

In both robberies last night, the suspect was wearing a blue mask and black clothes.

At J.B. Food Mart, the owner was preparing to lock the door for the night when he was held up, Hopko said.

“He (the suspect) was watching from somewhere,” he said.

The suspect got away with $500 from J.B. Food Mart, Hopko said.

Dogs traced the suspect’s scent to a driveway two houses down from the store, which was hidden by corn.

“By where the bloodhound went, that’s where a car was (parked),” Hopko said.

Police are not sure if the suspected acted alone or if he had a driver.

During the armed robbery on July 19, two men went into the store. One had a silver gun with a black handle and demanded money, while the other stayed closer to the door as a lookout. The robbers left the store on foot.

The man carrying the gun was described as a 6-foot-3 black male in his later 20s-early 30s and weighing about 180 pounds. He also was believed to be wearing white makeup on his face. The other robber was black, stood 5-foot-6 and weighed about 150 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 357-2151 or the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.