Sheriff's Deputies in Augusta County have not had a peaceful Christmas. They are investigating a pair of armed robberies at two different hotels Monday night, and they are seeking a pair of suspects who are still on the loose.

The Sheriff's Office was able to get composite sketches of the suspects and surveillance photos of the robberies, showing a suspect pointing a pistol at a clerk.

The first armed robbery took place at the Days Inn at Mints Springs. Then the second occurred only five miles away and a little more than half an hour later at the Hampton Inn near Staunton.

Sgt. David Lotts says they don't see a lot of hotel robberies because hotels are not known to have a lot of cash on hand.

"It's unusual that we have them that close together with the same types of suspects or the same descriptions, which leads us to believe the two are connected," says Lotts.

Lott says they don't necessarily see a lot of these kinds of crimes around Christmas, but the criminals may have thought no one was around.

"The criminal element might think that there would be less people to see them on holidays and so forth, but what the don't realize is a lot of times, we're still out here in full force," says Lotts.

Police say they'll need help from the public, because all they have to go on are drawings.

"Someone starts bragging about what they've done to the wrong person, they in turn get in contact with us, and we develop enough leads to go forward," says Lotts.

The Sheriff's Office did get a vehicle description of a small, silver-colored foreign car that has a license plate with the letters KGX on it.

At this time, these robberies are not connected to the Econo-Lodge robbery in Staunton Monday morning.

If you know anything regarding these two crimes, you are encouraged to call the Augusta County Sheriff's Office at (540) 245-5333.