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Police released a photo Wednesday of a man believed to be connected to as many as five armed robberies at businesses in North Fair Oaks and Redwood City this month.

The most recent robbery took place Tuesday night, Aug. 14, at Mi Hacienda Taqueria, located at 985 Second Ave. in Redwood City, police Sgt. Sean Hart said.

At about 8:15 p.m., a man walked into the restaurant with a handgun and demanded cash from the clerk at the register, Hart said. The employee complied, and the robber fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.

No one was injured, and two other patrons who were in the restaurant at the time were not robbed. The suspect was described as a Hispanic man with a medium build in his 20s or 30s, standing between 5 feet 8 and 5 feet 10 inches tall.

He is believed to be connected to four other armed robberies in the area in August, Hart said.

Willow Street Market at 37 Willow St. was robbed at gunpoint on Aug. 7. The following day, a suspect walked into the Panaderia Michoacan Market with a gun and left with an undisclosed amount of cash, Hart said.

On Aug. 9, an armed suspect held up El Paisano Carniceria Market at 2856 Middlefield Road, and on Aug. 11, another robbery took place at A1 Express gas station at 785 Fifth Ave.

The suspect is believed to be the same in each case, Hart said. Police are asking for the public's help in identifying the robber.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the crimes is asked to contact Redwood City police Detective Ed Feeney at 650-780-7219 or San Mateo County Sheriff Detective Andy Armando at 650-363-4347. Anonymous callers can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

— Bay City News Service

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