Milton Road Shell location makes it a prime target

ROCHESTER - The resonating theme known to sell a house could be same asset that puts a bull’s eye on a local business when it comes to a robbery attempt.

Location. Location. Location.

The Shell Gas Station at 198 Milton Road, nearly four miles from the Rochester Police Station, has been robbed three times in the past 10 months and twice in the past two weeks.

“It’s out there,” said Rochester Police Capt. Gary Boudreau referring to its distance from headquarters.

One June 25 two armed suspects, one toting a shotgun, brandished their weapons and made off with an undetermined amount of cash during a brazen daytime holdup as customers shopped in nearby aisles.

Both suspects fled north on foot, the same MO used in the wee hours on Sunday as a knife-wielding young man entered the store around 1:30 a.m. and demanded cash from the clerk, grabbed the loot and, again, fled north on the opposite side of Milton Road.

Boudreau said it’s likely in both incidents getaway cars were waiting just out of sight of store clerks and surveillance cameras.

Suspect in Sunday robbery.

Boudreau said the Milton Police Department works with convenience stores throughout the city to help them make their stores less attractive to thieves and robbers.

“Sometimes it could be just a question of hours (open),” he said.

Without citing the Milton Road location, he offered some other tips for stores leery of would-be robbers.

“Sometimes additional lighting can help,” he said. “Also, they can avoid putting a lot of posters in store windows so people can see in.”

He pointed to one specific incident in which a store had a large beer display near the door making it easy for thieves to try to make a quick grab on their way out the door.

Suspects in June 25 robbery.

In the Milton Road Shell incidents, thieves would’ve headed north on Route 125 with its quiet neighborhoods on both sides. They would have had escape options as well, either heading north into Milton or east into Lebanon, further taxing the coordination of separate law enforcement agencies.

Meanwhile, Boudreau did say progress was being made in the two most recent incidents. He said investigators continue to work several promising leads in both cases.

Interestingly, the Milton Road Shell isn’t the only Milton Road convenience store that’s been hit in the past year. Last June the L’il Mart at 174 Milton Road was also robbed.

Rochester Police are asking anyone with information about the two robberies to contact the Rochester Police Department at 330-7127.  Alternatively, calls can be made to the Rochester Crimeline at 335-6500. All calls to the Rochester Crimeline will remain confidential and rewards may be given for information leading to an arrest.  Tipsters can also text the Rochester Crimeline at Crimes (274637) in the body of the text, simply write TEXT4CASH followed by their tip.