A daytime robbery leaves Carbondale police searching for a suspect.

The Citgo gas station on the 2100 block of South Illinois Avenue (U.S. Highway 51) was robbed shortly after noon Tuesday. An undisclosed amount of money was taken from the gas station after an unarmed robbery that produced no injuries.

Witnesses said the suspect fled south into the woods behind the gas station after the incident.

Mary Twomey, an office worker at Great Shapes, which is located next door to the gas station, said she witnessed a portion of the ordeal as she made her way back from Arnold’s Market.

“I saw him standing next to the Citgo. I figured he was just smoking a cigarette,” Twomey said. “Later I saw him running across the Great Shapes’ parking lot.”

Twomey said she saw a civilian chasing after the suspect, who fled into the wooded area behind Great Shapes. Twomey then ran back into her gym and locked the back doors.

According to a statement released by the Carbondale Police, the suspect is a black male, about 20 years old, 5-feet, 11-inches tall with a thin build. The statement also stated the suspect was wearing a blue zip-up hooded sweatshirt and baggy blue jeans.

Police responded shortly after the 911 call and searched the woods behind the gas station with the help of police dogs, but were unable to find the suspect.

A separate robbery occurred early Monday morning at the Huck’s gas station located a block away from the Citgo. Witnesses described the suspect as a black male who robbed the store at gunpoint and fled on a bicycle.

Carbondale Police Officer Randy Mathis said given the vicinity of the two robberies, there is a possibility of a connection, but it was to early to determine that.

“We really don’t have any information to tie the two, so we’re treating both instances as separate cases,” Mathis said.

Anyone with information about either case is encouraged to call the Carbondale/SIUC Crimestoppers at 549-COPS.

Daily Egyptian writer David Lopez can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 273 or [email protected].