The saying goes that everything comes in threes, and early this morning that included armed robberies.

Local authorities are investigating holdups at three area conveniences stores, two in Ironton and one in Burlington. It is possible the same man may have committed all three incidents, police say.

At 3:31 a.m., employees at Speedway, Eighth Street and Park Avenue, notified police that a man carrying a small gray handgun entered the store, demanded money and then left, possibly in a car headed toward the Ohio River on Ninth Street.

The Speedway robber is described as a white male wearing a dark blue or black hooded sweatshirt with writing on the front of it. He also was reportedly wearing blue jeans, brown shoes and a white bandana.

According to the Ironton Police Department log, a white dog may have followed him out of the store.

At 4:03 a.m., the Rich Oil at Third and Monroe streets was robbed. Ironton Police Chief Jim Carey said the description of the man given at the second robbery was similar to the first.

At 5:30 a.m. the Speedway on U.S. 52 in Burlington next to Sam’s Club was held up.

“A man walked into the store, was in the store approximately 30 seconds and demanded money,” Lawrence County Sheriff Det. Aaron Bollinger said.

“The clerk gave him the money and he exited the store and left in an unknown direction of travel,” Bollinger said.

They are treating all three incidents as one.

The man is believed to be a white male between 5’ 7” and 5’ 10” and weighs approximately 160 pounds.

The investigation into all three robberies continues today. Those with information are encouraged to call the Ironton police at (740) 532-5606 or the sheriff’s office at (740) 532-3525.