MUSCLE SHOALS — Police are asking for the public's help in locating a man they believe robbed three local businesses since Friday night.

Muscle Shoals police detective Craig Rickman said since 9:35 p.m. Friday, Jack's Restaurant on Woodward Avenue, Quick Stop convenience store on Alabama 20 and Sweet Pepper's Deli Restaurant on Avalon Avenue have been robbed.

Reports indicate the suspect in all three is described as a black man, in his 20s or 30s, with what witnesses called a "scruffy" beard.

"He is wearing different clothes in each robbery, but the physical descriptions we've gotten are the same. That's why we believe it's the same person," Rickman said.

Also, police said a dark colored SUV was seen at Jack's and at Sweet Pepper's at the time of the robberies.

Rickman said in two of the robberies, the man has been wearing a baseball cap, while in the third he was wearing a knitted cap.

No one was injured in either of the robberies, police said.

According to reports, the man indicated by his actions in each robbery that he had a weapon.

"He keeps his hand inside his jacket or his shirt, giving the impression he has a gun," Rickman said.

He said the man drove to the Jack's drive-thru window just after 9:30 p.m. Friday and ordered the cashier to give him money.

"(Saturday) morning, at 5:45 a.m., he walks into the Quick Stop on Alabama 20 and robs the cashier," Rickman said. "Then just after 3 p.m., he walked into Sweet Pepper's and robbed the cashier.

"We're hoping someone may have seen him leaving one of the businesses or knows something about the robberies that will help us identify the robber."

Anyone with any information about either of the robberies is asked to contact the Muscle Shoals Police at 256-383-6746 or Shoals Crime Stoppers at 256-386-8685.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.