2 men who dressed as women sought in attempted robberies on Savannah Highway

Police are seeking two men in the attempted armed robbery of a hotel and bowling alley on Savannah Highway, apparently while dressed as women.

According to police, a black man 20 to 25 years old entered the Triangle Lanes Bowling Alley about 11:20 p.m. Friday, approached the main cashier and demanded money. The cashier became nervous and turned away, and the man left the business without getting any money.

About 11:25 p.m., two black men, each about 20 to 25 years old, entered the front lobby of the Holiday Inn Express just north of the bowling alley. One of them pointed a handgun at the desk clerk and demanded money. The desk clerk fled to a back room, and the men fled the hotel without getting any money. No one was injured in either incident.

In both incidents, the men appeared to be dressed as women, wearing wigs and padded shirts.

Police were not notified of the first attempted armed robbery until about 15 minutes afterward.

Charleston police spokesman Charles Francis said Saturday that it’s important for people to notify police as soon as possible after an incident occurs, because it can help in making a quick arrest and possibly prevent other crimes from occurring in the area.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call Charleston police at 577-7434 or Crime Stoppers at 554-1111.