Two armed men robbed two Casper convenience stores early Thursday morning, according to Casper Police Sgt. Mark Trimble.

The robberies took place at 4:20 and 5:00 a.m. at the Kum & Go at 15th and McKinley streets and at the Red Eagle Food Store at CY Avenue and Paradise Drive, respectively.

This is the second time this month the Kum & Go at McKinley and 15th has been robbed.

Trimble said the two males came into the stores, brandished handguns and demanded money from the clerks. Trimble did not know how much cash was taken from either store.

The suspects are described as males in their 20s, and are possibly white and Hispanic. Trimble declined to release details of what the suspects were wearing, or what their vehicle looked like.

Trimble said police believe the two robberies are linked, but not related to recent robberies in the Casper area. After going through the first nine months of the year without one, these robberies bring the city's total to four - all in the month of October.

Casper police patrol an estimated 30 24-hour convenience stores within city limits, Trimble said.They have stepped up efforts to keep an eye on the stores.

"It's a little hard to patrol," Trimble said. "We're doing the best we can to keep an eye on them."

The Kum & Go on McKinley was first robbed Oct. 12, only nine days after a Loaf 'N Jug store at 12th and Beverly streets was robbed. Trimble said information from these robberies has not yet led to any arrests.

In a statement e-mailed to the Star-Tribune, Kum & Go manager of corporate communications Tara Deering-Hansen wrote that the company does not reveal specifics on what safety measures are in the stores.

"We have several safety measures in place at our stores, but disclosing the specifics of that those are would lessen their effectiveness. In addition, when an incident like this occurs, our associates are trained to cooperate with local law enforcement agencies and help them in providing them with the information they need," read the statement.

Trimble encouraged clerks to take notice of suspicious cars or persons and to call the police if something seems unusual.

"The best advice we can offer is to be aware of your surroundings," he said.

If clerks find themselves in a robbery situation, Trimble also said it's best to just cooperate and hand over money if it's asked for.

All the robberies are still under investigation. Anyone with information on the crimes is asked to call Casper police at (307) 253-8278.

Reach Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@casperstartribune.net.