CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Police believe the same pair of armed men are responsible for three armed robberies at north Charlotte businesses late Thursday.

The first robbery happened at a Dunkin Donuts on North Tryon Street near Old Concord Road at about 7:45 p.m. Forty minutes later, a few miles north on University City Boulevard near W.T. Harris Boulevard, the gunmen robbed a Subway restaurant. Then 20 minutes after that, the robbers hit a Circle K convenience store further down University City Boulevard near East Mallard Creek Church Road.

Officers said there is no question there was time for the same people to have committed all of the robberies, and they said they are very concerned. They want people to take a very close look at pictures of the robbers.

“It took nerve to do what they done,” said Bob May, who lives next to the Dunkin Donuts that was robbed. “Very scary.”

All three robberies happened in less than an hour. Eyewitness News drove the route and found it only takes about eight minutes to get from the Dunkin Donuts to the Subway and less than three minutes to reach the Circle K from the Subway.

Capt. Mike Smathers of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said because of the intensity of the crime spree, officers want to quickly close the case, which is why they released surveillance photos Friday.

“You want to try to jump on it and get some identification on these suspects so we can stop them,” he said.

Eyewitness News showed the surveillance pictures to area residents. While Jan Solomon said she didn’t recognize them, Howard Revles said he’s seen at least one of them.

“I've seen him,” Revles said.

“Where have you seen him?” asked Eyewitness News.

“Right around this area,” he said.

No one was hurt in any of the robberies, but Alisha Davis and Chris Adam, who walked up to the Circle K just after the gunmen left, said they hope someone identifies the men in the pictures fast.

“There's no place on this Earth for people with bad intentions,” Adam said.

Police said the suspect descriptions they have for the Circle K and Subway robberies are almost exactly the same: two black men, one with dreadlocks the other with short hair. Witnesses said there were two men with dreadlocks at the Dunkin Donuts robbery, but because of the timing and proximity, police said there's a strong possibility it’s related too.

Police are hoping for a break in the case before the robbers can hit again. If you recognize any of the men from the surveillance pictures, call police immediately at 911.