Athens police believe Monday’s armed robbery at a South Jefferson Street check cashing business is connected to three other robberies in Tennessee.

Capt. Marty Bruce said a tall white male walked into the Approved Cash Advance business about 4 p.m., pulled a handgun on Assistant Manager Tabitha Baugher and told her to crawl on her hands and knees to a restroom at the back of the business.

The robber opened cash drawers inside the business and made off with an undisclosed amount of money, Bruce said.

Baugher was shaken by the incident but not injured.

“We are relatively sure this robbery is connected to three others Monday in Tennessee,” Bruce said.

In those robberies, bandits used the same method as in the Athens robbery to steal money from businesses in Winchester and two nearby cities, he said.

Police said Baugher did not see whether the robber was driving a vehicle because she waited approximately 20 minutes before exiting the restroom. Bruce said the robber closed the door to the restroom after Baugher crawled inside.

Baugher said the robber was wearing a cap, a black scarf around his face, a navy blue shirt and blue jeans. Bruce said investigators believe the robber was armed with a semi-automatic handgun.

“He could have possibly left driving a metallic gold or brown Malibu,” Bruce said. “We obtained the description of the car from witnesses in the Tennessee robberies.”