× Thanks for reading! Log in to continue. Enjoy more articles by logging in or creating a free account. No credit card required. Log in Sign up {{featured_button_text}}

A gas station on University Avenue was the scene of two crimes within minutes of each other, with the crimes possibly committed by the same person.

The first crime was car theft and the second was armed robbery, Madison police said.

The incidents happened at the BP gas station at 5445 University Avenue.

At about 7:45 p.m., a Sun Prairie man had his car stolen when he went inside to pay for gas, after leaving the keys in the unlocked car.

"During the couple of minutes he was away from the car, someone got inside and drove off," said police spokesman Joel DeSpain. "They didn't get very far."

The car hit a parked vehicle on Craig Avenue, and witnesses saw four young men get out of the stolen car and run, including one holding a handgun.

The BP station was robbed a few minutes later by a suspect with a handgun.

"Investigators are looking into the possibility the two cases are connected," DeSpain said.

The armed suspect is black, late teens, 6 feet tall, slender, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants and black shoes.

Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.