Charleston, SC - Two separate armed robberies that were minutes apart are raising concerns for those who live and work near Ravenel.

"Right now they're under the assumption they can push anybody around and nobody's going to act back on them,” Randy Beylotte said.

According to police, around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 17 a suspect wearing a dark sweatshirt and armed with a shotgun demanded money inside a Dollar General store.

But that may not be all. Police say just minutes before that robbery a suspect matching the same description robbed an individual on Highway 165 near the Dollar General. Fortunately there were no injuries in either case.

"We're certainly looking at the two as being related," Sheriff Cannon said. “These folks know the concentration of police officers is not as great as urban areas so they take advantage of that."

Sheriff Cannon said officers have been stepping up patrols in the rural south eastern part of the county to put an end to crimes like this, but those who live nearby say the community must also band together.

“It's a beautiful area we live in. Don't let drug dealers and riff raff, as I call it, move in and take our community away from us,” Beylotte said.

Police did search the area around the dollar general store today, however so far no arrests have been made.

If you have any information on either of the robberies you're asked to contact crime stoppers at 554-1111.

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