7-11 Robberies in National City, Spring Valley Are Connected: Cops

Three times in the last week, suspects have held up a local convenience store clerk and demanded money and lottery tickets.

Now, police investigators say they believe the same suspects are responsible for each robbery.

Two stores, a 7-11 on East Plaza Boulevard in National City and a 7-11 on Worthington Street in Spring Valley were robbed within minutes of each other Wednesday.

At 3:50 a.m., two men armed with a handgun and a knife robbed the Worthington Street store, punching the clerk in the mouth. The suspects wore ski masks, dark clothing and gloves and fled on foot heading northbound.

While San Diego County sheriff’s deputies were at the scene, San Diego police said they’ve had similar robberies in their jurisdiction with similar suspect description.

Then, at 4:38 a.m. National City police were called to the East Plaza Boulevard store where two men wearing dark clothing stole cash and lottery tickets. In this incident, the suspects fled in an older model Dodge Neon according to officials.

National City police say they believe the two robberies to be related and may be connected to a similar robbery reported May 21 at the same 7-11 on E. Plaza Boulevard. In that robbery, cash and lottery tickets were stolen as well officers said.