CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte-Mecklenburg robbery detectives said a pair of thieves is targeting customers as they leave check-cashing businesses.

Police are investigating three robberies Tuesday evening outside businesses from east Charlotte to west Charlotte. In all three cases, victims reported being confronted by two men with guns driving a gold sedan.

The first robbery happened just after 5 p.m. outside a business on Albemarle Road near Lawyers Road. The victim told Eyewitness News that two men pulled behind him as he went to his car.

"They both snuck up behind me with guns in hand and said give it up," the 45-year-old man said.

He said the robbers took a $25 money order and some cash.

An hour later, police said the same two men approached Denise Gill, 44, as she left a check cashing business on Beatties Ford Road. Gill said she thought it was a joke at first.

"I saw a gun and a bandana around his face, and that's when I knew he was serious," Gill said.

She said the robbers took only about $40 and left in a gold sedan.

Less than 40 minutes later, the same car turned up outside a check-cashing business on Freedom Drive where two men robbed a 28-year-old victim.

Police said that the car used by the suspects was reported stolen from an east Charlotte apartment complex on Monday. As of Wednesday night, they had not located that car.