The suspect enters a Cornelius Harris Teeter on May 22. (Cornelius Police Dept. photo, from security camera)

Harris Teeter has boosted the reward it’s offering for information about a series of armed robberies at Cornelius and other Charlotte-area stores in May. Cornelius police said Wednesday the grocery chain is now offering $75,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case, up from $50,000.

The bigger reward comes as Cornelius and other police departments continue their investigations into a slew of related robberies. And Harris Teeter has beefed up security at its area stores, including hiring off-duty police to patrol at night.

The reward will be paid for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case.

The robberies included one May 22 at 12:02 a.m. at the Harris Teeter in Jetton Village. In that incident, one suspect entered the store and made off with an unspecified amount of cash. He was described as a skinny, black male wearing a dark color hooded sweatshirt, red and white tennis shoes, black hat, and a black bandana over his face. He was carrying a small, dark-colored hand gun.

Harris Teeter and North Meck Crime Stoppers also had offered smaller, separate rewards in the Cornelius case previously.

Police later determined that the Cornelius robbery also be related to other armed robberies of Harris Teeters in Fort Mill, S.C., and off Providence Road, Charlotte. Police also are investigating whether those are related to seven other Harris Teeter robberies in May in Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point.

Anyone with information is asked to call Cornelius Police Detectives at 704-892-7773, or North Mecklenburg Crime Stoppers at 704-896-7867 (STOP) .

RELATED COVERAGE

May 29, 2012, “After robbery, Harris Teeter offers cash reward for info. leading to arrests”

May 23, 2012, “Harris Teeter armed robberies Mon. may be related, police say”)

May 22,2012, “Suspect sought in midnight Harris Teeter robbery”

See May 16, 2012, News-Record.com, “Triad agencies cooperate to solve 7 Harris Teeter robberies.”

CLARIFICATION – This article has been updated to clarify that the reward is for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case.