Police believe that a man who robbed the Spokane Valley Safeway on East Sprague last week may be the same man who robbed the Shadle Safeway on Monday. He is described as a white man with short hair and a medium build in his 30s. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information that helps solve the robberies. Reporter Meghann Cuniff has surveillance photos of the suspect and more details here.

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of a man who put a woman in a choke hold, then punched her in the face before stealing her purse and shopping bags on Sunday. The 61-year-old woman had arrived at Poppy's Tavern, 415 S. Dishman Mica Road, to open up for the day. Reporter Meghann Cuniff has more here.

A resident in the 3900 block of South Woodruff just called police to report that two men wearing ski masks pointed a gun at him and demanded cash when he pulled into his garage. He told dispatch that two white men got into a dark colored passenger car and headed south on Woodruff. Officers are heading into the area.

A 911 caller in the 8000 block of E. South Riverway in Millwood reports that three men robbed him at gunpoint in his home. More information to follow when available. 

4:35 p.m. update: The man said he and his mother were tied up by the robbers, but were able to free themselves.

On the heels of last week’s bank robbery are two convenience store robberies, the most recent this morning. An armed man entered the Zip Trip at 15504 E. Fourth at about 2:30 a.m. today. The clerk told police that the man brandished a black pistol and demanded cash from the till. He ran south toward an apartment complex. A K9 team tracked the robber to the complex parking lot before losing the scent, said police spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.

He was described as a white male in his early 20’s, about 6’ 01” tall and 170 pounds. He was wearing a black ski mask, black gloves, black pants and shoes and a black “puffy” coat over a white shirt.

The other robbery was at the Holiday Gas Station at 2303 N. Argonne just after 3 a.m. Saturday. The clerk reported seeing a black semi-automatic pistol. The robber in this case was described as a thin white male in his late teens or early 20’s. He was wearing dark pants and a white t-shirt as well as a ski mask and gloves. He left heading north on foot.

Anyone with information on the two robberies is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.