A payday loan store in Columbia, Tenn., is the latest victim in a growing trend. Advance America was reportedly robbed Friday afternoon. This follows reports of payday loan store robberies in Spokane, Wash., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Indianapolis, Ind., and Wichita, Kan.

Seeking a suspect

Columbia police are searching for the robber. Maury County’s “The Daily Herald” reports:

Both employees in the store at the time of the robbery described the man to authorities as wearing blue jeans, a black shirt, a black hat and sunglasses. One employee said the suspect had a speech impairment.

The Daily Herald also states the robber, described as a black male, left in a white Ford Escort with Tennessee plates. Anyone with information is asked to call (931) 380-2721.

Update in Washington

After a month long crime spree, Spokane police have arrested two suspects in connection with the Spokane payday loan store robberies. Police also believe the two are responsible for multiple pharmacy robberies in the area. Read the full report by Paydayloan Princess.

Still no word

Indianapolis police have arrested one suspect in a string of payday loan store robberies, but they are still seeking a second man in connection with the arrests. They have named Eric Edwards, 23, as a suspect. People with tips can call 317-262-TIPS.

Wichita and Cedar Rapids police are investigating the payday loan store robberies in Kansas and Iowa.

The ski mask: Helping criminals get away with robbery for more than a century.

Robbers across the country are continuing to target payday advance loan stores. The latest incident happened in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. According to The Gazette, two robbers armed with handguns hit up a Money Station branch right after the store opened yesterday.

Police are seeking male and female suspects, who are described in The Gazette article, and ask anyone with information to call 1-800-CR-CRIME.

Spokane spree

Last week two payday advance loan stores in Spokane, WA, were robbed within hours of each other on Jan. 29. Police believe the same person, a white man in his 20s, is responsible for both crimes. One of those stores was targeted just the week before, and police are seeking the same suspect for that robbery as well.

Police make one arrest in Indiana

Two stores were hit in one day in Indianapolis as well. On January 19 the same two men robbed two payday loan stores within an hour. Indiana police arrested one man in connection with the robberies, and they are still seeking a second suspect named Eric Edwards, 23.

The missing piece: arrests

So, between Cedar Rapids, Spokane and Indianapolis, we have a total of six robberies in about two weeks. We also have a total of one arrest. This is particularly discouraging in the Spokane case, where it appears the same man robbed the same payday advance loan store twice and got away with it.

The one that didn’t get away

Last year in Birmingham, Ala., police had a little help tracking down a man who robbed an EZ Pawn PayDay Loans store. In that case, employees followed the robber outside and shot at him. He shot back, but he was the only one who ended up in the emergency room later that day. I bet the money he stole from that payday advance loan store could have helped a lot with his medical bills if he hadn’t gotten caught.