BY MARY JANE FARMER

HERALD DEMOCRAT

McKINNEY -- Three times a gunman has robbed McKinney businesses, and police believe it may be the same thief in each incident.

McKinney police Lt. Scott Brewer said that the armed robber's actions are becoming more dangerous with each incident, all of which have happened within an 8-day period.

The first robbery was about 5 p.m. at the First Convenience Bank located inside a Kroger Grocery Store on University Drive. Here, the robber told tellers he was armed, but never produced a gun.

Then, about 10:20 p.m. the next day, a man matching the same description, he entered a convenience store on North Central Expressway and showed a handgun to the clerks.

Saturday night, a man who is believed to have been the same perpetrator, went into the Golden Corral Restaurant, on South Central Expressway, armed, and threatened the employees.

Brewer described the perpetrator as a white male, between 21-28 years old, about 5-feet 11.5 inches tall, and with dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, and a scar on the left side of his neck.

Anyone with information that could be helpful in solving these crimes is urged to call McKinney police Detective Paul Hardin at 972-547-2742.