Two Family Dollar stores robbed hours apart in NE Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Two Family Dollar stores were held up within moments of each other.

The two robberies happened within couple hours and 2.5 miles apart. Police say the suspect fit the same description in both cases.

"The manager came up and said get your kids and get out the store, we're being robbed," witness Deborah Conerly recalled.

The first happened at the Family Dollar off Tidwell and Hirsch. The suspect was in and out in 30 seconds, but those fleeting moments felt a whole lot longer to Conerly.

"As we was going in, there was a hooded guy kneeled down, crotched over walking out the store," Conerly said, "Pulled a gun on one of the cashiers, put it in her face. And he had a hoodie on, and mask on."

One of the stores just opened Thursday. Police swarmed it with guns drawn and a K9; the customers huddled together in the parking lot.

"It was me and an elderly Hispanic couple, getting ready to pay for their stuff. There was still employees in there; four ran out, four still in there. When the police came, they got them out, cleared them out," Conerly said.

As Eyewitness News was gathering information about the first robbery, a second Family Dollar in the 7500 block of Hempstead Road was robbed; this time, police say the suspect got away with a bunch of cash.

"It's got to stop. This is our community, our kids. As I drive home, I will be looking out for them, and if I see him again --that one -- I will recognize him," Conerly said.

Conerly's time was stolen but thankfully nothing else.

No arrests have been made yet. Police are still looking for the suspect.

If you have info, call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.