Rash of 7-Eleven store robberies in Prince William County

WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Robbers have hit nearly a dozen 7-Eleven stores in Prince William County. Three incidents have happened in the last three weeks alone and the suspects remain on the run.

A 7-Eleven manager told FOX 5 that there is only $35 in a cash register, but that hasn't stopped a string of stick-ups at stores across the county.

Eleven of these stores in the area have been held up in recent months.

"This is has always been a quiet community," said Deloris, who lives in Montclair. "I've lived here over 30 years and because it being more populated, I can kind of see the uprising of problems going on in the neighborhood."

The most recent robbery happened at the 7-Eleven store in Woodbridge on Cardinal Drive.

Shortly after 9 p.m. on Sunday, surveillance video shows three masked men with large guns demanding cash. Police say they escaped in a black four-door car.

Police say in most cases, the situation is usually the same -- it's late, the suspects come in, and despite surveillance cameras, they pull out a gun and demand money.

Nearly two weeks earlier on the day before Christmas Eve at another Woodbridge 7-Eleven located on Gordon Boulevard, two masked men walked in, pulled out handguns and demanded money before escaping in a black four-door Honda.

Three days earlier on Dec. 20 in the early morning hours, another hold-up happened inside another Woodbridge 7-Eleven located on Minnieville Road. In this case, the robber was alone and ran away after stealing cash.

In response to the 7-Eleven robberies, Prince William County police have increased patrol of the surrounding area to help deter criminals and ease concerns.