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Another armed robbery by armed man; 3 thefts may be related, police say BY JULIE SWENSEN For the third time in a week, an armed robber struck in Medford Friday, and a police lieutenant said it appears the crimes are connected. This time, a man robbed the Valley of the Rogue Bank at 2400 Poplar Drive. At 5:47 p.m. Friday, police said, he walked into the bank with a silver-colored, large frame semi-automatic handgun. While police were heading to the bank, the suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. Witnesses chased after him, but despite their efforts the robber was lost around Hilton Road and Corona Avenue. Medford police officers turned out to look for him, as well as a K-9 unit. But the suspect's trail was lost near Whittle Avenue. The suspect is described as a white man, age 20 to 30, with a medium dark complexion, standing 5-feet-8 and weighing 145 pounds. He was wearing a dark blue flannel-type coat, light blue jeans, and a black or dark blue ski mask. The robberies of a bank and tanning salon earlier this week haven't been solved, either. "It's obvious there's a rash of robberies," Medford police Lt. Tim George said. George also said it appears as though the robberies are connected, whether it's one suspect disguising himself, or two suspects acting together and taking turns, he said. Either that, or Medford had a sudden leap in independent robbers moving into town, George said. He added that anytime there's a string of robberies, the law of averages tells you people are acting together. "This is getting old," the lieutenant said. Anyone with information about the robbery can call the Medford police detective division at 774-2228, or the records division at 774-2250. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA