Police concerned about armed robberies

Police sent out this advisory, regarding three separate armed robberies of banks and a drug store that occurred in Walnut Creek during January.

Last week, two robberies occurred at banks in Walnut Creek. The first happened Tuesday, the 19th, at about 10:52 a.m. at the Chase Bank in the Palos Verde Mall, located at the corner of Pleasant Hill Road and Geary Boulevard.

The next morning, a man robbed the Bank of the West at 2050 North California Blvd.


The previous weekend, on Saturday, January 16, two men, one armed with a revolver, robbed an employee of Walgreen's on North Main Street. 


Here's the notification from the Walnut Creek police:

During the month of January, 2010, the City of Walnut Creek experienced three armed robberies of businesses. All three robberies involved suspects who brandished firearms while committing these crimes. Two of the robberies occurred at banks and the third was at a drug store.

In light of these recent brazen robberies, the Walnut Creek Police Department is working closely with local businesses and residents to inform and educate them on how to prevent and react to such crimes in our town. This proactive and collaborative relationship will help us to identify those involved.

We encourage people to call the Walnut Creek Police Department if you see any suspicious behavior near a business; especially banks. Alert and aware citizens can help prevent these crimes from occurring. The Walnut Creek Police Department is committed to preventing future crimes of this nature.

The Walnut Creek Police Department wants you to know that we are aware of the seriousness of these crimes and we are working diligently to protect and prevent future crimes of this nature. Please help us by contacting our non-emergency police dispatch center at (925) 935-6400 to report suspicious activity. Dial 911 for in-progress crimes or medical emergencies.
If you have any questions or information regarding the recent robberies, please contact Detective Bertolozzi or Detective Brown at (925) 943-5844.

Robber, jewerly store owner shoot it out in Alamo shop

An Alamo jewelry store employee wasn't going to give in to a gunman who entered his store Thursday night and attempted to rob his business. The 53-year-old employee pulled out a gun, and the two men opened fired and injured each other.

The incident took place at about 7:15 p.m. at the Alamo Jewelry Mart in the Alamo Plaza Shopping Center. The employee was wounded in the upper torso but his injuries were not life-threatening injuries in the incident, according to news reports in the San Francisco Chronicle and the Contra Costa Times. Information about the condition of the suspect, a 50-year-old Alamo man, was not available.

(An Alamo man trying to rob a jewelry store? Sorry, to resort to stereotyping but, hey, you don't hear about someone of that age and hometown resorting to robbery.)

Anyway, neither man's name was released. The robber initially refused to come out of the store as demanded by responding Contra Costa County Sheriff's deputies, and he briefly held a gun to his head. But he finally came out and was taken to the hospital.

Photos released of 7-Eleven bank robbers

The Contra Costa Sheriff's Department is releasing photos of two suspects who robbed the 7-Eleven on Oak Road in unincorporated Walnut Creek back on October 23.

The robbery took place at 1:14 a.m., according to spokesman Jimmy Lee.

Two robbers, armed with guns, entered the store and ordered the clerk to the floor. The robbers took some cash and items from the store. It was unknown which direction they fled and whether they used a car to get away. Detectives believe the two may have robbed the same 7-Eleven before.

No one was injured.

Suspect 1 is described as heavyset hispanic or white male, wearing a black hoodie jacket, white t-shirt and dark blue or grey colored pants.

Suspect 2 is is described as a hispanic or white male, wearing a black jacket with a logo on the front, and grey pants.

The suspects are considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with any information on their identities is asked to call the Office of the Sheriff at (925) 313-2653.