Staff/Wire reports

FLORENCE - A man robbed the Subway restaurant at 7129 Turfway Road Thursday night, Florence police said.

A man wearing a black stocking mask entered Subway about 9:15 p.m. and opened his coat to show a gun, said Florence police Lt. Tim Chesser.

The robber demanded cash, took the money and ran toward Dixie Highway.

The female employee was not injured, and there were no customers in the store.

The man was described as white, 6 feet tall, thin and about 18 to 20 years old.

He was wearing a black trench coat, a black hooded sweat shirt and black jeans.

Police think the weapon may have been a double-barreled shot gun.

Police are investigating whether the robbery is related to a string of recent robberies in Ohio, Indiana and Northern Kentucky.

But the Subway robbery had more differences then similarities to the other crimes, Chesser said.

In those six robberies, the suspect entered the store around closing time and made small talk with the clerk before pulling a small semiautomatic pistol.

In four of the cases, the female clerks were also sexually assaulted.

The suspect did not wear a mask and had "distinctive" blue eyes.

He was described as in his 30s or 40s with a stocky build.

The most recent robbery tied to the string was Feb. 28 at a Fort Wright dry cleaners. The other robberies were in Cold Spring, Dry Ridge, Grove City and Fayette County, Ohio, and Indiana.

Anyone with information on any of the robberies is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (513) 352-3040.

Ohio heist suspect also wanted in Louisville

SYCAMORE TWP. - A man wanted in a heist March 12 at U.S. Bank, 7763 Montgomery Road, also is a suspect in the robbery of a suburban Louisville bank three days later.

John Hensley Jr., 52, of Columbus, remained at large Friday.

He was indicted in Hamilton County this week on felony charges of aggravated robbery and robbery.

Hamilton County sheriff's detectives linked Hensley to the U.S. Bank robbery after hearing about the Kentucky incident.

The suspect in the U.S. Bank robbery handed the teller a note, then fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash, police said earlier.

A gun was not displayed and no one was injured.

Police said Hensley may be driving a 1993 blue four-door Chrysler bearing Ohio license plate FB21RL.

Officers said he should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, 851-6000 or Crime Stoppers, 352-3040.