Investigators believe the same man who robbed a Villa Rica Swifty Save this month was involved in two earlier incidents, one in Carroll County in November and another in Haralson County in September.

During the armed robbery on Dec. 17, a man entered the Swifty Save at 9600 Conners Road at about 7 p.m. and started to buy a lottery ticket, according to Villa Rica police Capt. Keith Shaddix.

When the man handed the cashier money for the ticket, he allegedly produced a handgun and requested an undisclosed amount of money. The cashier complied and the man fled the scene.

The Dec. 17 incident was the third Villa Rica armed robbery at a convenience store since Nov. 20, a number which police say is uncharacteristic of the area.

“One armed robbery is serious enough and I don’t know that I’ve ever seen this many so close together,” Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Shane Taylor said.

Taylor said similarities between a Nov. 20 Villa Rica robbery and a September Haralson County robbery have led investigators to believe all three robberies may involve the same man.

“We believe that at least two of the three are related,” Taylor said. “We are still looking into the third in Haralson County.”

During the Nov. 20 armed robbery, the man reportedly walked into the Villa Rica Food Center Store at 1701 W. Highway 78 at 8:45 p.m. with an empty gallon jug. The man told the cashier he needed to buy a gallon of gasoline and when the cashier opened the register, the man pulled out a gun and demanded money.

“We have been sharing videos and information as part of our investigation,” Shaddix said. “We are working with a number of law enforcement agencies.”

As a result of the high number of robberies, Taylor said the Sheriff’s Office implemented a new patrol strategy in an attempt to catch criminals in the act or deter them from robbing local stores.

“If deputies are not out on a call, they are going from store to store,” Taylor said. “We have told them to pay closer attention to convenien ce stores.”

Though there has been a surplus of convenience store robberies in Carroll County, the Carrollton Police Department has only responded to two in 2009.

“We’ve been fortunate not to have too many in the city like the rash they are having in the county,” said Capt. Chris Dobbs. “We’ve had years when we’ve had our rash but this year has been pretty average for us.”

Both Dobbs and Taylor agreed the best reaction to an armed robbery is cooperation.

“Don’t fight over the money,” Dobbs said. “Money can be replaced but a life can’t. Give them the money and let them go, your life’s not worth $100.”