Robber Uses Syringe To Hold Up Westmoreland Co. Businesses

State police in Greensburg are looking for a man who robbed a motel and a gas station while wielding a syringe and claiming to be infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Police said the man robbed the Sunoco station in Youngwood just after midnight Saturday, and then hit the Super 8 Motel in nearby Hempfield Township at about 3:45 a.m.

"I hope they catch him and get him off the streets. I know they're vulnerable here. They're nice people who work in here. I hate to see them work under those situations," said customer Shirley Ferrenberg.

A man with a similar description also robbed the Motel 3 in about 2 p.m. Saturday, and a Subway sandwich shop about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, both also in Hempfield Township. The robber in those incidents had a handgun.

"It is unusual to have this amount of robberies by what is believed to be the same person in this amount of time," said Tpr. Jeanne Martin of PSP Greensburg.

The robber is described as white, approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, wearing a plain gray hooded sweatshirt with a white bandana covering his face.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

Previous Stories: June 17, 2009: Police: Robber Threatened Shadyside Clerk With HIV Infected Needle