CLANTON, AL (WBRC)- The police chief in Clanton has a big problem on his hands. Chief Brian Stilwell says there's been a rash of armed robberies in his city.

He thinks the same crook has committed robberies in several other towns, including Hoover.

Authorities believe it is one guy acting alone in all these situations. They suspect he may be travelling up and down I-65 looking for targets.

Over the last months he's hit five Alabama towns that are as far as three plus hours away from each other. Police hope to stop him before hits more.

One of the most recent victims was a clerk at an Exxon gas station who goes by "Christina." She described what happened during the robbery.

"Was about 7:40. I was standing at the counter and I heard the door open. The guy came in, pointed the gun at me and said, where's the money?" Christina said.

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- The FBI today released its annual report on the number of hate crimes in the U.S.

First the good news: the FBI says nationwide, the number of reported hate crimes dropped by about 400 to 6,222 last year compared to 2010.

The FBI says of Alabama's 83 hate crimes last year, 69 were related to race or ethnicity, seven because of sexual orientation, five because of religion, and two because of disability.

But the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate crimes in Alabama and nationwide, says those numbers don't tell the real story.

Birmingham Police have noticed an increase in car thefts and break-ins since temperatures have risen, in part because people may leave their car running in order to keep in cool while they run into a store.

To help combat these crimes they have offered some tips that can help protect your property, regardless of where you live.