Two separate armed robberies and a home invasion kept Citrus County deputies busy on Wednesday and Thursday chasing the bad guys.

The first incident, an armed robbery, was reported at just before 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

Sheriff's Office dispatchers were notified of an attempted robbery at gunpoint at a residence on West Green Acres Street in Homosassa. The 56-year-old victim told responding deputies he was exiting his garage when he saw a white male walking toward him.

The suspect gave him a first name only, and asked if that person was home, to which the victim replied that no one by that name lived there. When the victim told the suspect to leave the property, the 56-year-old said the young man pointed a handgun at him, demanding all his money.

The victim knocked the suspect's arm away, and the weapon discharged. No one was injured, but the suspect ran down the driveway, fleeing the scene on foot.

The agency's helicopter, plus ground units and a K-9 team, responded to search the area; however, the suspect wasn't located.

A BOLO (be on the lookout) was issued, which described the suspect as a white male, in his late teens to early 20s, approximately 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a slim build. He was unshaven and last seen wearing a gray hoodie.

Thursday: Armed robbery in Crystal River

At around 12:30 on Thursday morning, an armed robbery was reported at the Kangaroo Express located at 6296 W. Gulf to Lake Highway in Crystal River.

The clerk told deputies that the lone suspect entered the store pointing what appeared to be a rifle, and demanding all the cash from the register. The robber threatened to shoot the victim if he failed to comply. According to the clerk, he handed over an undisclosed amount of money in a plastic bag, at which time the suspect fled from the store, running westbound.

No injuries were reported.

The unidentified masked suspect is said to be a white male, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds and wearing a dark-colored T-shirt, blue jeans, black shoes, a dark cap, plus a camouflage cloth concealing his face.

The Sheriff's Office air unit, ground units and a K-9 team searched for the suspect, but the suspect was not found.

Also Thursday: Home invasion in Citrus Springs

At 6:44 a.m. on Thursday, Sheriff's Office dispatchers received a phone call about a home invasion that had just occurred in Citrus Springs.

Deputies responded to a residence on North Academy Drive, where four adults and three children were confronted by a masked suspect who forcefully entered the home by breaking a rear glass sliding door. He threatened them all with an assault-type firearm, and said if he didn't get the money in the house, he'd shoot them.

When he was told they had no money to give him, the suspect ran out of the residence empty-handed. No one was injured.

Witnesses described the suspect as a white male, between 6 feet 2 inches and 6 feet 4 inches tall, with a medium build. He was last seen wearing a dark ski mask, a dark flannel-type shirt and a toboggan hat with ear flaps.

Anyone with information about these crimes or the identity of any of the suspects is asked to contact 911, or Crime Stoppers of Citrus County, Inc., by texting CITRUS plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES), clicking on www.crimestopperscitrus.com or calling 1-888-ANY-TIPS toll-free. Tipsters may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $1,000.