Roanoke Rapids police have made arrests in the armed robbery of two businesses.

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The robberies occurred last week — one on Old Farm Road and the other on Highway 125.

Chief Bobby Martin said this morning  the four arrested, which include a 16-year-old juvenile, are friends and know each from the streets.

He said they are possibly connected to crimes committed in Weldon.

The first robbery occurred on October 26 at the Old Farm Road New Dixie Mart shortly after 11:30 p.m.

One person went inside the store to commit the robbery while a second person stood outside as a lookout. 

The person who went inside the business brandished a black handgun and took an undisclosed amount of money. 

Through the investigation, detectives identified the man standing watch as Kenneth Patterson, 30, of Roanoke Rapids, and identified the person who reportedly committed the robbery as the juvenile.

The firearm was identified as a BB gun, Martin said.

Two days later, on October 28, the person who ended up being identified as the juvenile in the Old Farm Road robbery reportedly walked into the Highway 125 New Dixie Mart wearing a mask and went into the restroom where he pulled out a handgun.

The juvenile walked around the counter and brandished a black firearm. 

He also reportedly pointed the firearm at a customer standing inside the store. 

He then took an undisclosed amount of money and rolled coins. 

The juvenile left the store on foot heading northwest.

The vehicle that carried the individual and dropped him off to commit the robbery was stopped by responding units. 

The driver, Thomas Martin, 30, of the Halifax area was identified. 

The passenger in the vehicle with him fled the scene after the vehicle was stopped. 

The passenger was later identified as Antericko Whitaker, 20, from the Roanoke Rapids area. Through the investigation the individual inside the store was identified as the same juvenile in the Old Farm Road robbery.

The juvenile was served with a secured custody order on October 29.

Patterson was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and was served with the warrant on Saturday. He received a $15,000 bond with a January 6 court date.

Thomas Martin was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and aid and abet robbery with a  dangerous weapon. 

He was served Tuesday and received a $50,000 bond and November 18 court date.

Whitaker was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery. 

He was served Sunday and received a $15,000 bond and January 6 court date.

“The Roanoke Rapids Police Department would like to thank the Weldon Police Department for working closely together in regard to these robberies,” Martin said in a statement. “The two agencies working together were able to identify and arrest the suspects responsible for robberies.”

Martin said this morning, “I’m very pleased with the way investigators stuck with these robberies. They reviewed hours and hours of security camera footage, conducted numerous interviews and were able to tie everything in. The patrol unit on Highway 125 and their quick response led us to all parties involved in the robberies.”