At 4:30 p.m. on Thursday a white male attempted to rob North Shore Printing at knifepoint. 

According to North Reading police, the manager of North Shore Printing reported that a white male, approximately 18-years-old with dark hair, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and dark pants showed a knife and demanded money. He did not get any money from the business, police said.

A witness told police he saw a male matching the description run across the North Shore Printing parking lot and get into a silver vehicle, possible an Audi. The vehicle then fled toward Andover on Main Street.

Approximately 30 minutes later, Silver Cleaners in North Andover was robbed at knifepoint. The cleaners is less than two miles away from North Shore Printing.

Andover also saw a similar crime this week. Star Nails was robbed at knifepoint Tuesday evening by a male with a similar description to the suspect who robbed Silver Cleaners and attempted to rob North Shore Printing. Both the Andover and North Andover businesses lost an unknown amount of money. Police from all three towns affected are working together to determine if the crimes are connected.