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COLUMBIA -- Police are investigating two armed robberies at Columbia convenience stores Monday night.

The first happened at about 10:30 p.m. at the Petromart at 2200 W. Ash.

Police said a black man wearing a ski mask armed with a handgun went into the store and demanded money from the cashier. The man took an unkown amount of money and left.

The robber was described as a black male, approximately 5'9", thin to average build, last seen wearing a ski mask, dark-colored hooded sweatshirt and jeans.

The second armed robbery was about a half hour later at Midwest Petroleum at 2712 Paris Road.

Authorities said two men wearing masks armed with hanguns went into the store and demanded money from the clerk. Just like in the first robbery, the men took an undiclosed amount of money and left.

One of the robbers was described as a black male, about 17 to 19 years old, wearing a dark colored coat and jeans.

The second robber was described as a white male in his early 20s, last seen wearing a dark-colored coat and jeans.