Wheeling liquor store robber may be a repeat customer

For the second time in three weeks, police officials said Liquor Island in Wheeling has been held up by what appears to be the same knife-wielding robber.

Wheeling Deputy Police Chief Bill Benson said the most recent robbery took place Tuesday night at about 6:30 p.m., when the unknown person walked into the liquor store at 1750 W. Hintz Road and stepped behind the counter with a four-inch folding knife in his hand.

Benson said the man demanded the money out of the register, the clerk handed the money over, and the man fled on foot. Police were unable to locate the subject.

Benson said the robbery matches a similar heist at the same store on Nov. 7, where the robber displayed the same or a similar knife, and also went behind the counter and stole money from the register.

Police said the suspect is a male, 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-10 tall, weighing about 220 pounds. He was wearing a black baseball hat, a gray hooded sweatshirt with a dirty white T-shirt, and light blue baggy pants.

Anyone with information should contact the Wheeling Police Department at (847) 459-2632.