Man sought in two Howard robberies

Howard County police are searching for a man in the armed robberies of two businesses in a North Laurel shopping center where a police substation is located.

About 10:30 p.m. Aug. 6, the robber, who was wearing sunglasses, entered the High's Dairy Store in the Whiskey Bottom Shopping Center in the 9100 block of All Saints Road, police said. He wielded a knife and demanded money and cigarettes from the store clerk. No one was injured, but the robber fled with cash and cigarettes, police said.

And just before 4 p.m. Thursday, the same man entered the Dollar Plus Store, approached an employee and demanded money while holding a large knife, police said. No one was injured in that incident, but the robber ran off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Howard County police are offering a $1,000 award for information leading to the arrest of the robber. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 410-313-3200.