MERRILLVILLE | A pair of armed robberies Tuesday may be connected and are under investigation, police said.

Merrillville police Sgt. Jeff Rice said about 2:10 p.m. police were dispatched to the Dairy Queen on Broadway after hearing reports of an armed robbery at the restaurant.

He said a man entered the restaurant and ordered a meal from the clerk, who was the only employee in the business at the time.

The man then went behind the counter and put his hands in his pockets as if he had a gun, but no weapon was shown, Rice said.

He said the suspect demanded the clerk give him money, and the clerk gave him about $150 from the store's registers.

The suspect then told the clerk to get on the ground and count to 60, and he fled south from the business, Rice said.

The suspect is described as a white man in his 20s, wearing a black coat, blue jeans and a black stocking hat. He has blue eyes and was unshaven.

Also on Tuesday, a man pointed a gun at two women near an apartment in the 1900 block of 79th Place.

Rice said a woman was traveling home with a friend when a tan, four-door Toyota was parked near them. The suspect came out of the car and greeted the women, Rice said.

He said the man then told the women to give him their purses. He said the suspect received a purse from one of the women, which contained $183 and a credit card.

The suspect then got into the car and fled west on 79th Place, Rice said.

He said police believe the robberies may be connected because the suspect descriptions from the two incidents were similar.