Roanoke police are investigating two failed robbery attempts within a half-hour on Christmas Day, both by someone wearing a red, hooded sweatshirt.

Police spokeswoman Aisha Johnson declined to say whether investigators believe Sunday's incidents are related.

"I'm not going to speculate on whether it's the same person or not," Johnson said. "No arrests have been made at this point."

The first incident occurred about 1:15 a.m. at the Stop-In in the 1800 block of Memorial Avenue Southwest.

A man in an unzipped red sweatshirt over a sports jersey emblazoned with "03" brandished a gun and demanded money, Johnson said. A clerk refused, however, and the man fled empty-handed.

Police received the second call at 1:42 a.m. to the Stop-In in the 3600 block of Plantation Road Northeast.

A black man in blue jeans and a red hooded sweatshirt, with a black shirt over his face, wielded a gun and asked for money, Johnson said.

The man fled after a clerk pressed an alarm button, Johnson said.

Anyone with information on either incident is urged to call Roanoke police at 853-5959 or Crime Line at 344-8500.

-- Reed Williams