Serial robber strikes again, police say

Police suspect a serial robber may be responsible for an OxyContin heist less than an hour after an attempted robbery of a payday loan center Tuesday evening. Police suspect the same masked gunman robbed two Check into Cash stores three times last month. Employees at Check into Cash at 923 N. Division St. reported an attempted robbery about 6 p.m. At 6:40 p.m., a man matching the same description robbed the Shopko at 9520 N. Division St., said Spokane Police Officer Kevin King. The man stole seven bottles of the powerful painkiller, valued at nearly $5,000, King said. The same Check into Cash was robbed Jan. 29, along with the store at 555 E. Francis Ave. That store was also targeted Jan. 20. The suspect is described as a white male, 18-25 years old, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10, 130 to 150 pounds and wearing a black ski mask, light blue or acid-washed jeans, white tennis shoes, gloves and a black hooded jacket or sweatshirt. Anyone with information on the crimes is asked to call (509) 242-TIPS.