COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A man whom authorities think was behind the robberies of two local hotels remained on the loose Monday.
NBC 4's Tom Brockman reported with the FAST FACTS.
Officials asked for the public's help to track down the suspect.
The robberies were on the city's West Side and happened within a matter of days.
Police said the man struck first at Staybridge Suites Tuttle Crossing at 6095 Emerald Pkwy in Dublin.
The suspect went into the hotel Monday, Dec. 29, asked for an application and demanded money, according to police.
Two days later, police said a man who fit the same description showed up at Hampton Inn & Suites at 3950 Lyman Dr. in Hilliard.
This was what Hilliard police said the suspect did: The suspect walked into the hotel, went to the counter and asked for an application. He sat down for a few minutes. He went outside. A few moments later, he came back inside and went back to the counter. Instead of asking for an application, he told the hotel clerk he had a weapon and demanded money.
When the clerk complied, the man took off.
Hilliard Detective Mike Redmond said there could be a reason for the man's actions.
"Instead of just walking in and robbing the place, he walked in and saw what was going on," Redmond said.
Redmond also said the money the man did get away with couldn't have been much.
"Most hotels deal in credit-card business. There's not a lot of cash involved," Redmond said,
Authorities described the man as Hispanic, 22 to 30 years old, weighing between 160 and 180 pounds and between 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 7 inches tall.
His vehicle was described as a dark blue Dodge Stratus.
No one was injured in either of these incidents.
Anyone with information was encouraged to call CPD at 614-645-4545 or Hilliard police at 614-876-7321.
Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for the latest information in this developing story.
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