Police describe suspects in muggings, robberies

Banks were robbed in Hanoverton, East Palestine and St. Clair Township.
SALEM -- Columbiana County deputy sheriffs think the same man may have been involved in three recent bank robberies.
And Salem and Columbiana police say they believe the same group was involved in muggings in each city Wednesday.
A large man robbed Consumers National Bank in Hanoverton on Wednesday.
Deputies said the physical description of the man and his behavior were similar to recent bank robberies in East Palestine and St. Clair Township.
In all three cases, the robber wore a mask.
The man is white, about 6 feet 2 inches tall and heavy. Witnesses estimate he may weigh as much as 300 pounds. He may be age 19 to 20, according to deputies.
The man also touched his waist at the Hanoverton bank as if he had a gun.
Deputies said the robber at each bank was cool and collected. There were no shots fired or injuries in any of the robberies.
Muggings
Salem police said a woman fought back against a mugging around 7:15 a.m. Wednesday in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Two men followed her to her vehicle. One man grabbed her purse and tried to run. The woman pulled down the man's pants. The man said he had a gun but did not show one. The man dropped the purse, pulled up his pants, and left in an older white car.
Columbiana police said that a woman was leaving the Sparkle Market around 8:15 a.m. Wednesday when a man hit her in the back of her head and took her purse.
The white man was described as about 30 years old, between 6 feet and 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing about 200 pounds. The robber was wearing a stripped shirt and faded blue or gray jeans. He was also wearing a tan or gray baseball cap backward.
He got into what is believed to be a white Chevrolet with red striping, decals or molding. The driver was a white, overweight and dirty woman with stringy hair. Another white man was in the back seat, also wearing a baseball cap backward.
Anyone with information should contact the local authorities.