Melbourne police search for robbery suspect

Melbourne police are conducting a search for a man - possibly a serial robber - who pulled a gun on a gas station clerk and stole several hundred dollars in cash.

The robbery happened at 4:15 p.m. at 1709 U.S. 1. Police reported that a clean shaven, thin man with a red shirt walked into the business and pulled out a black revolver. He then demanded money from the clerk. The robber reached into the cash register and ran to the back of the store, authorities report.

Police are looking into similarities with another armed robbery that took place in Palm Bay last week at the Subway restaurant at 195 Malabar Road. The clerk in that case said the man walked into the store and ordered food before later flashing a handgun, demanding both cash and the custom-made sandwich. No one was arrested in that case.

Melbourne police are at the business this afternoon with police dogs attempting to track the scent of the robber. It was not immediately known if the man escaped in a vehicle or left the area on foot. Anyone with information on the Chevron robbery is asked to call police at 321-608-6422.

Contact Gallop at 321-242-3642, jdgallop@floridatoday.com, or Twitter@JDGallop