AUGUSTA — Police are investigating an armed robbery that reportedly took place early Friday at the Super 8 motel at 395 Western Ave. in Augusta.

The motel reported that a man whose face was partly covered entered the motel around 1:30 a.m., demanded money and threatened an on-duty worker with an unidentified object, said Deputy Chief Kevin Lully, of the Augusta Police Department, in a news release.

The robber used a baseball bat to threaten the worker, according to an employee of the motel who answered the phone later in the day. The man fled after receiving about $130, said the employee, who did not want his full name in the paper and identified himself only as Sam.

“Police are investigating it,” he said. “This is the first time we’ve had (an armed robbery) like this one.” Then he added, “Everyone is safe.”

The robber was described as being 5-foot-9 and wearing dark clothing, including a sweatshirt with a hood that was pulled over his head and something around the lower half of his face, Lully said.

Afterward, police searched the area with the assistance of a dog and a member of the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office but were unable to locate the suspect.

They’re asking anyone with information about the case to contact Detective Ben Murtiff at 626-2370, ext. 3437. They did not release photos of the suspect because the photos are of poor quality, Lully said.

In Augusta, the annual number of reported robberies generally has been declining over the last few years, according to data the city shares with a mapping website called RAIDS Online. Five years ago, it was around 19. In the last year, it was eight. That marks a 58 percent drop.

But the number of those robberies that have been reported at commercial locations, such as grocery stores and gas stations, has remained more consistent. Just four have been reported in the last year, which is about the same number as five years ago.

Charles Eichacker — 621-5642

[email protected]

Twitter: @ceichacker

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