Four armed robberies were reported in the South County this month, but the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office said it is “too soon to tell” if they are related.
“We don’t have any confirmation that these robberies are linked, but we are still investigating to see if there is that possibility,” said Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tony Cipolla. “The suspect descriptions are different in some of the cases and their mode of transportation is different in some of these cases, so that would lead us to believe that they may not be related, but we are still investigating to see if they are.”
Sheriff’s Office Tips
Before a crime:
*Make sure you have a surveillance system installed
*Make sure you know how to operate the surveillance system
During a crime:
* Remain calm and go along with the criminal’s demands
* Don’t be a hero. Money and valuables can be replaced, you can’t.
* Be a good eyewitness. Remember as many details about the criminal as you can. Age, sex, race, height, weight, color of eyes and hair, clothing, weapon, other distinctive signs like scars, tattoos or accent.
After a crime:
*Lock the entry door and other access points
* Call law enforcement immediately
The first incident occurred On Aug. 7 at approximately 10:20 p.m. Pismo Beach police responded to reports of an armed robbery at the Spyglass Inn where a man reportedly brandished a gun and demanded cash from a female employee working at the front desk of the hotel.
The night clerk told officers that a white male adult approximately 20-25 years of age entered the front lobby and demanded cash from her as he pointed a small-caliber black handgun. According to a news release, the suspect attempted to conceal his identity by wearing a white surgical mask and also had a black hoodie pulled over the top of his head. The clerk handed over an undisclosed amount of cash and the suspect fled on foot toward Spyglass Drive. No one was injured.
The suspect is approximately 5-foot, 10-inches tall, weighs about 200 pounds and has bright blue eyes. He wore a black hoodie with an emblem on the upper left chest and a large logo on the back.
On Aug. 11 at am/pm in Arroyo Grande. Officers from the Arroyo Grande Police Department responded to a robbery in progress at about 2 a.m.
Reportedly, two male suspects entered the store and confronted the clerk and physically attacked him demanding cash from the safe, according to reports.
The suspects wore baggy clothing and their faces were concealed. After chasing the victim, both suspects fled with the victim’s property and were last seen running toward Cornwall Avenue. Officers searched the surrounding neighborhood but did not locate the suspects.
On Aug. 12, at about 10:30 p.m. sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of an armed robbery at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort in Avila Beach. Witnesses reported a male suspect armed with a handgun robbed a clerk and then fled the area in a dark colored sedan with an undisclosed amount of money. No one was harmed during the robbery.
The suspect was described as a white male adult in his thirties, approximately 6-foot, 2-inches tall with a medium build. He wore a black ski mask, black sweatshirt, and blue jeans.
Then on Aug. 13 at approximately 4:45 p.m., sheriff’s deputies responded to a call of an armed robbery at Nipomo Smoke. A male suspect armed with a small handgun entered the store and robbed the clerk of about $350. The suspect then ran off into the surrounding area. No one was hurt during the robbery.
The suspect is described as a white male adult, approximately 30 to 35-years-old, between 5-foot 10” and 6-foot tall, approximately 180 pounds with short dark hair. The suspect was last seen wearing a white hooded sweatshirt, possibly inside out, dark sweatpants, and a bandana over his face during the robbery.
“We are investigating all leads that we have,” said Cipolla. “It is too soon to tell at this point. Until we have more information, until we are able to complete all of our reports [with] eyewitnesses who saw what happened, and review the surveillance tapes and all those types of things, we really won’t know.”
Anyone with more information on the armed robberies should call their local law enforcement agency or Crime Stoppers at 805-549-STOP. The investigation is ongoing.
