Robbers Strike Inside Columbia Mall Over Weekend

Several people visiting the fell victim to two armed robberies and two more attempted robberies between 9 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Sunday, according to a Howard County police spokesperson.

"[Investigators] will be handling all four cases and are actively looking into the possibility that the [incidents] are connected, but have made no determinations yet," said police spokesperson Bryce Buell.

The department released the following information about the incidents:

• Shortly before 9:30 p.m. on Friday, a group of people approached a person near Champs restaurant. One suspect in the group demanded money from the individual, who refused to cooperate. The suspect pushed the person into a bush and fled.

• At 7 p.m. on Saturday, a group of people approached a person in the mall's food court. The person followed the group toward a hallway, where a suspect displayed a knife and another implied a gun. The suspects stole cash from the victim's pockets and fled.

• Shortly after 9 p.m. on Saturday, two suspects pushed a victim up against a wall on the second floor of the mall, showed a gun to the victim and demanded his cell phone. The suspects stole the phone and fled.

• Shortly after 4 p.m. on Sunday, a suspect approached an elderly victim and her friend as they walked toward their vehicle outside of the mall. The suspect grabbed the victim's arm and attempted to take the phone from her hand, but failed and fled on foot.