Masked gunman robs Rock Hill motel in third crime in less than a month

A motel clerk in Rock Hill was robbed at gunpoint by a masked man early Tuesday, marking the second motel robbery in a week and the third in less than a month.

Police are working to see if the robberies are related, said Capt. Mark Bollinger, spokesman for the Rock Hill Police Department.

In all three robberies, the gunman wore a mask, police reports show.

The latest incident happened around 12:40 a.m. Tuesday at the Hampton Inn on Tabor Drive, off Dave Lyle Boulevard near Interstate 77 Exit 79, police said.

The motel employee told officers a man wearing a black mask, a hoodie and carrying a handgun walked into the lobby and demanded money, according to an incident report. The employee handed over cash from the register and the man fled on foot, police said.

A K-9 team and more officers tried to track the suspect, but no arrests were made.

Police have video surveillance, but have not released the video.

On April 4, the clerk and a guest at the Courtyard by Marriott on River Run Court were robbed by a masked man with a gun, police reports show.

On March 22, the clerk at Baymont Inn & Suites on Anderson Road was robbed by a masked gunman who told the clerk he would shoot her if she did not hand over the money, a police report showed.

Andrew Dys: 803-329-4065, @AndrewDysHerald

This story was originally published April 10, 2018 at 10:53 AM with the headline "Masked gunman robs Rock Hill motel in third crime in less than a month."