Businesses next door to each other robbed by man with machete

A man wielding a rusty machete robbed two stores next to each other nearly three hours apart Thursday night, police said.

The robber entered the O’Reilly Auto Parts store at 4850 E. 13th St. at about 9:40 p.m., brandished the machete and demanded money from the register, Lt. James Espinoza said. The 52-year-old clerk complied, and the robber left the area on foot.

Shortly after midnight, Espinoza said, a man walked into the QuikTrip next door to the auto parts store, on the corner of 13th and Oliver, pulled a machete from beneath his coat and demanded money. The clerk complied, and the robber left the area on foot.

Employees at the convenience store and police officers were able to identify the suspect, who was arrested mid-afternoon Friday near 21st and Arkansas, police say. The machete suspected to be the weapon used in the crimes was found Friday morning.

Given the proximity of the stores and the fact that the suspect in both robberies used a machete, “Obviously, we’re looking to see if they’re related,” Espinoza said.

There were no injuries in either robbery, police said.

This story was originally published November 20, 2015 at 1:30 PM with the headline "Businesses next door to each other robbed by man with machete."