Armed robberies at gas stations increasing in Columbia

A gas station clerk at a Break Time in north Columbia was robbed at gun point early Monday morning.

Columbia Police responded to 301 Nebraska Avenue at 1:46 a.m. and found out that two male suspects, both armed with handguns, went into the gas station’s convenience store and demanded money from the clerk.

Police said that after the suspects took the money, they headed north on foot.

At last check, the suspects have yet to be located.

According to Uniform Crime Reports from the FBI, in 2014, there were a total of 283,820 robberies in the United States. Of those robberies, 22,371 took place at gas stations and convenience stores.

In 2015, there were a total of 284,772 robberies in the U.S., and 23,934 of those took place at gas stations and convenience stores.

The numbers for 2016 are not available at this time.

Missouri’s Uniform Crime Reports does not break down how many robberies took place at gas stations or convenience stores, but ABC 17 went through press releases to find out those numbers.

According to online reports, in 2014, there were a total of 116 robberies in Columbia, 24 of which were armed robberies, and seven of those were at gas stations and convenience stores.

In 2015, there were 141 robberies in Columbia, 26 of which were armed, and four of those were at gas stations and convenience stores.

In 2016, there were 120 robberies, 18 of which were armed, and six of those were at gas stations and convenience stores.

In 2016, Break Time gas stations were robbed the most.

ABC 17 tried to contact MFA Oil, the corporation that owns Break Time, but they did not respond.