The Marshalltown Police Department is following up on leads in the recent string of armed robberies, but there haven't been many.
Local convenience stores have been targets of five robberies since Dec. 5. Armed with both guns and knives, men of varying descriptions have demanded money from clerks during evening hours. Two stores have twice fell victim to robberies - Git-n-Go, 3302 S. Center St. and Kum & Go, 613 N. Third Ave. Another robbery occurred at Casey's, 402 S. 12th Ave. when two men robbed the store at gunpoint.
Police Chief Mike Tupper said a combination of limited physical evidence and few leads has stifled the development of suspects. Meanwhile, the quick nature of the crimes are difficult to catch in progress, he said.
"I have every confidence in the officers that are working the cases," said Tupper. "They are going to find out what's going on and we're going to catch these people - it's just a matter of time."
Tupper said he's increased patrol staffing during the evening and early morning hours in the response to the robberies.
"It's a difficult problem because we can't be everywhere at once," he said. "We've done some things to increase our surveillance of these convenience stores, but they are spread out and there are a lot of them, and we have limitations with our staffing as well."
Tupper said the MPD has contacted area law enforcement agencies, as well as the Iowa Department of Corrections, to determine possible suspects. They are also looking at people in the community with prior records, he said.
However, the police chief is certain one key to solving the crimes is likely right here in Marshalltown.
"I truly believe that there's somebody in our community who knows who this person is or who these people are and we would very much encourage those people who have information to come forward with that."
The MPD is open to anonymous calls, he said.
"What they suspect, or what they know - we want that information and we will act on it," he said.
The early morning incident Sunday at Kum & Go and the other robbery there is still under investigation, but Tupper said it could have been the same person committing the crime.
"The last two incidents feel very similar," Tupper said. "We're considering the possibility that it was the same person, but we're trying to keep an open mind and look at all the possibilities."
The Sunday morning suspect is described as Hispanic man, wearing an olive colored hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and a black mask. The Jan. 6 robber was described as a Hispanic male dressed in dark clothing. Both suspects were armed with a knife.
Police officers have talked to businesses and employees about how they can protect themselves.
"It's not their fault that this has occurred," he said. "We have people out there that have committed some crimes and are taking advantage of people. We're going to work with the business community about how to get that stopped."
Anyone with information about these crimes is encouraged to contact the Marshalltown Police Department at 641-754-5725.