FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KMPH) -
Fresno County sheriff's detectives are investigating two hotel robberies that occurred late Monday night, and they believe the same people may be responsible for others that took place over the past few days in and around the county.
Shortly before 10 p.m., deputies went to the Travel Lodge along Dorris Avenue near Coalinga after receiving a call about an armed robbery.
The hotel clerk said that three masked people -- a man and a woman -- entered the business and robbed him at gunpoint. The group took off with several hundred dollars.
About 30 minutes later, deputies were called to another reported armed robbery at the Best Western Lodge along Panoche Road in West Fresno County.
Deputies say three masked suspects entered the business and robbed the clerk at gunpoint. They pistol-whipped the clerk, grabbed several hundred dollars, and drove away in a small white or silver colored vehicle.
The clerk was not badly hurt.
Deputies say the robbers were wearing black clothes and masks. At least one of the men was armed with a handgun.
Detectives are following up on several leads, including the possibility that the group may be responsible for similar robberies in Fresno, Selma, Kingsburg, Santa Nella and Patterson over the Labor Day weekend.
Anyone with information on this investigation is asked to contact the Fresno County Sheriff's Office at (559) 488-3111 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP (7867).
Stay with KMPH News and KMPH.com as we continue to follow this story.
