The Instant Cash Advance was robbed at gunpoint shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday morning. Post photo by J. Reed.

A small business in Cedar Springs was the target of an armed robbery Wednesday morning.

According to Police Chief Roger Parent, the suspect entered the Instant Cash Advance store at 151 S. Main and demanded money while showing a gun. An undetermined amount of cash was handed to the suspect who then fled on foot.

The suspect was described as a tall black male wearing a dark colored, zipper style hoodie, dark baggie pants and black tennis shoes. He had his face covered with a white, plastic mask. His physical description was reported as being over 6 feet tall, 200 pounds with a trimmed beard.

Suspect in robbery caught on surveillance video.

A K-9 Unit from Wyoming Police Department assisted in the search of the suspect but lost the track after reaching the street directly behind this business.

A resident living on W. Church Street said she saw a red, mid-size vehicle slowly circle the block, and then park in the driving lane of the road. She said she noticed it because she was waiting for a friend to come over, who also drives a red car. She realized it wasn’t her friend when she saw someone in a black hoodie get out and walk toward the businesses in the strip mall. She thought it seemed suspicious that he had parked there, but when she went to open her garage door and get a peek at the license plate, the car was already gone.

Suspect caught on surveillance video.

Chief Parent said they feel this vehicle was most likely involved with the robbery.

There were two employees and one customer inside at the time of the robbery, but no one was hurt. The 58-year-old female clerk complained of chest pains after the robbery and was checked out by Cedar Springs Fire and Rescue and Rockford Ambulance, but did not wish to be transported to the hospital.

Parent said they are looking into the similarities of this robbery with other recent crimes in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area.