Fake Bearded Bandit holds up NN store

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) - A man notorious for wearing a fake beard as he robs businesses struck again Sunday night at a Newport News dollar store.

Harold Eley with the Newport News Police Department said officers were dispatched to the Dollar General located at 15435 Warwick Blvd. around 9:30 p.m. for a report of a robbery. There, they learned an unknown black male wearing a fake beard entered the store and demanded money from a clerk.

After obtaining an undisclosed amount of money, the suspect fled the scene.

He’s described as being between 40 and 45-years-old, standing 5’8” and weighing between 150 and 160 pounds. He was wearing a navy blue windbreaker with a hood and a black baseball hat with the hood up over the hat, light colored jeans and black running shoes at the time of the robbery. In addition to the fake beard, the suspect also wore black gloves with white tips on the fingers and dark sunglasses.

Eley said officers believe the suspect is the same one responsible for more than two dozen robberies between Hampton, Newport News and York County. He has remained elusive over the course of a year.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.