Police: Del. woman tried to rob six convenience stores in four hours

Melissa Hutchison, 32. (Credit: Delaware State Polie).

Delaware State Police on Saturday arrested a Newark woman after she allegedly attempted to rob six convenience stores in less than four hours.

Investigators said Melissa Hutchison, 32, started her rampage around 1 a.m. Saturday morning at a Wawa on Pulaski Highway in Bear.

Hutchison allegedly put her hands in her sweatshirt, told the clerk she had a gun and demanded money.

When the employee refused, police said Hutchison fled.

The woman just 20 minutes later tried her luck at a Shell gas station on North DuPont Highway in New Castle, according to police.

Hutchison allegedly again concealed her hand in her pocket and told the clerk she was armed.

This time, authorities said the woman made away with an undisclosed amount of cash, fleeing in a vehicle.

Apparently, the haul wasn’t enough for Hutchison – police said she reappeared shortly before 4:45 a.m. at a 7-Eleven on Maryland Avenue in Wilmington.

Hutchison allegedly held a candy bar under her shirt “in such a fashion as to make it appear she had a concealed gun,” according to a release from police.

Investigators said the astute store clerk knew Hutchison was holding a candy bar and refused her demand, prompting her to leave the store.

Hutchison allegedly drove directly to a 7-Eleven on Kirkwood Highway in Wilmington, told the clerk she was armed and demanded money.

When she found the employee to be uncooperative, police said Hutchison tried to open the register herself, but was unsuccessful and fled.

Authorities said Hutchison immediately drove to a Dunkin Donuts about a block away.

This time, she allegedly stuck a pair of sunglasses under her sweatshirt to mimic a gun and demanded cash from two clerks.

When they refused, Hutchison again “futilely tried to open the register herself,” police said.

The woman fled when one of the clerks began to yell at her.

Undeterred, Hutchison allegedly moved on to a Shell gas station shortly before 5 a.m., where police said she again concealed her hand in her clothing and demanded money.

Police said when the attendant didn’t comply, Hutchison threatened to shoot him, banged on the cash register and fled.

A New Castle County police officer tried to stop Hutchison as she left the Shell station, but she allegedly tried to flee.

Polie said she crashed her vehicle and was arrested.

No injuries were reported, but an investigation allegedly revealed the car Hutchison was driving had been stolen from an acquaintance, whose wallet Hutchison is also accused of pilfering.

State Police detectives charged Hutchison with six counts of attempted first-degree robbery.

She also faces first-degree robbery, theft of a motor vehicle and traffic offenses from New Castle County police regarding her alleged single successful robbery of the DuPont Highway Shell station, along with the alleged vehicle theft and crash.

Hutchison was jailed at the Baylor Women’s Correctional Institute on $461,000 secured bail.