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2 overnight restaurant robberies connected; police search for robbers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police confirmed two restaurant robberies just three miles apart from each other in northeast Charlotte are connected.

Authorities said just before 3 a.m. Tuesday, two masked armed robbers went into a Waffle House on Stetson Drive near North Tryon Street and began demanding money. Investigators said one of the robbers fired a shot at the safe but it didn’t open.

There were several customers inside the Waffle House at the time. Police said the robbers took cellphones from those customers before leaving.

No one was hurt during the robbery.

Employees at Jack in the Box about three miles away from the Waffle House on North Tryon Street were robbed by two people 30 minutes later.

A worker told officers one of the robbers fired a shot through the front door to get inside. No one was hurt.

Officers said a robber took an employee's cellphone.

Authorities are also investigating a robbery at a Speedway gas station on North Tryon Street that could be connected to the other two crimes.

Police have not made any arrests in the cases.

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