Armed Robbers Strike Palo Alto Safeway Pharmacy, Steal Medications
PALO ALTO (KPIX 5) – Police are searching for at least three suspects connected to an armed robbery at a Safeway store pharmacy in Palo Alto early Friday morning.
According to authorities, the robbery took place at the supermarket located at 2811 Middlefield Road around 12:40 a.m. Police said one of the suspects brandished a handgun and told a male employee to get on the ground. Meanwhile, a second suspect broke the glass door of the pharmacy and stole an unknown amount of prescription medications.
The suspects were then seen leaving in a red two-door pickup truck that was last seen traveling eastbound on Oregon Expressway.
Scene of a robbery at a pharmacy inside a Safeway store on Middlefield Road in Palo Alto, January 10, 2020. (CBS)"I just hear the noise, went to see what happened," said Mauricio Cerrano, a store employee. "And that's when I see the guy, and right away he pointed to me and said 'Hey, get down on the floor.' It was scary."
Police said there were initial reports of gunfire, but police said an employee may have confused the sound of the glass door shattering with the sound of a gunshot.
No employees were hurt and no customers were in the store at the time, but the employees were shaken up. The store reopened before 6 a.m.
Police described the suspects as three men with medium builds. According to surveillance video, the suspect who brandished the handgun was wearing a gray hoodie, blue jeans and red tennis shoes. The second suspect was described as wearing a yellow hoodie with a Tommy Hilfiger logo, dark pants and black shoes; while the third suspect wore a red hoodie, gray pants and black shoes and was clean shaven.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Palo Alto Police Department at 650-329-2413. Tips can also be given anonymously by e-mail to paloalto@tipnow.org, via text message or voicemail to 650-383-8984 or through the department's mobile app.
