By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A woman armed with a knife robbed two people at a laundromat and attempted to rob another man outside the Hurley YMCA, according to Salisbury police.

Wanda Patricia Whitaker, 50, was charged with two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and one count of attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon.

The Police Department said Whitaker approached the victims with a knife in her hand and demanded money.

The first robbery happened about 6:20 a.m. Thursday inside a laundromat on West Jake Alexander Boulevard. The victim told police that a black woman demanded all her money.

The victim gave the robber her money, including a bag of quarters. The robber told the woman to go inside the restroom and wait. The woman stayed there for a few minutes then came out.

A second victim told police that a black woman approached her car and told her to roll the window down, which she did. The woman said the robber grabbed her by the shirt and put a knife next to her. The victim gave the robber her wallet, but the returned it because it was empty. The robber told the victim she would cut her then told her to leave.

Police say a third victim ran inside the YMCA after the suspect approached him in the parking lot. The woman grabbed him by the shirt and pointed a knife at him. He turned and ran.

The victims gave police a description of the robber, a license plate number and a description of her car.

Whitaker remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $25,000 secured bond.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.