Shortly before midnight on Tuesday, Grand Champion bar owner Bob Benner said that the first robber who barged in was hard to take seriously.

"He was shrouded with a mask and a hoodie and basically announced for everybody to get on the floor," Benner said.  "He did it in almost a jokingly way.  In fact, three of the people who were there that night said they thought he was joking at first."

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The two other accomplices quickly convinced the six patrons inside to lie down and pass over their wallets and purses, 10TV's Maureen Kocot reported.

Two nights later and seven miles away, police said that three men left Ann and Mike's bar on East Main Street.  One of them returned with a gun, fired a shot and again demanded patrons' wallets, Kocot reported.

Police said that the two attacks were as different as they were similar.  Investigators did not know if they were connected.

Benner said that he hopes a third robbery won't happen to connect the cases.

"If people don't comply and somebody's got their hand on the trigger and gets angry, somebody could end up getting hurt over nothing," Benner said.

Anyone who has information about either robbery is asked to contact police.

Stay with 10TV News and 10TV.com for additional information.

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