WINTON – Winton Police are searching for two men wanted in connection with an armed robbery that took place here Sunday night at a Winton convenience store.

Larry Belangia, Winton’s Police Chief, reported that two black males entered the Red Apple Market, located at the intersection of old US 13 and NC 45, shortly before the store was to close at 10 p.m. Both suspects had their faces covered and were each wearing blue coveralls.

Two female employees were working in the store at the time of the robbery. Neither was injured, but one was physically forced to open the cash register at which time one of the suspects demanded, &uot;give me all the money and do not push the panic button.&uot;

Both suspects were armed, one with a small caliber handgun and the other with a rifle with a scope. They escaped with an undisclosed amount of money. Their method or direction of travel was unknown due to the robbers forcing the clerks to lie down behind the counter.

Chief Belangia does have a good facial description of one of the suspects. He was caught on videotape earlier Sunday night while, according to Belangia, &uot;casing out the Duck Thru (convenience store) here in Winton.&uot;

The Chief continued, &uot;We showed the videotape from the Duck Thru to the cashiers at the Red Apple and they verified that the person seen on film matched the description of one of the men that robbed their store. Even the color and style of the ‘do-rag’ he wore was the same.&uot;

Belangia urged anyone with information concerning the robbery to please contact him at 358-1033 or call the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office at 358-7800. The name of the caller will be kept confidential.