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Two armed robbery suspects arrested in Menlo Park
Two more sought following car chase and crash Wednesday

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Two suspects in the attempted armed robbery of a jewelry store in North Fair Oaks are in custody and two more are being sought following a car chase and crash in Menlo Park on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 16.

Described as four black men in their 20s, they are wanted in the attempted robbery of Plaza Jewelers on Middlefield Road near Eighth Avenue. The weapon, a black semi-automatic handgun, is in police possession, said Deputy Rebecca Rosenblatt of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. No injuries were reported in the robbery attempt.

Deputies arrived at the jewelry store within 30 seconds of the call and followed the suspects' vehicle, a white sedan, until it crashed into another car and slammed into a telephone pole at
Marsh and Bay roads at 12:32 p.m.

The car's occupants fled, with deputies in pursuit. The occupants of the vehicle that had been struck were not injured, Rosenblatt said.

The search for the men, which included K9 units, was conducted yard by yard in residential North Fair Oaks, Rosenblatt said. At one point, the search included a fixed-wing plane from the California Highway Patrol, she said.

Residents were asked to remain indoors during the search, and those not at home were being kept outside the search perimeter, she said.

Atherton, Menlo Park, Redwood City and Palo Alto police joined the hunt.

Following the crash, police were seen holding shotguns and standing in the street and along railroad tracks near Marsh and Bay roads, a witness said.

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Comments

Posted by gun, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Jan 16, 2013 at 7:14 pm

Who is the registered gun owner? If not one of the people arrested, the owner should be arrested as a participant in this robbery if if they were not present. They are just as responsible.


Posted by gun, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Jan 16, 2013 at 7:15 pm

Sorry for the typo. I meant:

Who is the registered gun owner? If not one of the people arrested, the owner should be arrested as a participant in this robbery even if they were not present. They are just as responsible.


Posted by Mr.Recycle, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Jan 16, 2013 at 8:19 pm

@gun you don't have to register handguns in California.


Posted by gun, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Jan 16, 2013 at 10:26 pm

Why the **** not? Gun registration would be a very effective way to reduce gun crime and gun accidents. We register our cars. Why not guns?


Posted by neighbor, a resident of the Greenmeadow neighborhood, on Jan 16, 2013 at 11:29 pm

California Law: All handgun serial numbers and sales are recorded by the state (registered) in the Department of Justice’s Automated Firearms System. Long arm serial numbers are not recorded, only the sale. While there is no requirement for California residents to register previously owned handguns or firearms with law enforcement, §12025 and §12031 enhance several misdemeanor offenses to felonies if the handgun is not on file in the Department of Justice’s Automated Firearms System. California §12025 states that handguns must be transported unloaded and in a locked box other than the glove compartment or utility box in a motor vehicle. New residents must register handguns (purchased outside of California) with DOJ within 60 days.


Posted by musical, a resident of the Palo Verde neighborhood, on Jan 17, 2013 at 7:29 am

So registering cars prevents them from being stolen and used in a crime? The registered car owner should be arrested as a participant. They are just as responsible.


Posted by gun, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Jan 17, 2013 at 9:41 am

Cars are not the same as guns. An armed robbery is an intentional act. Most car crashes are allegedly accidental. However, in some cases, the cops do go after the registered car owner, even if they were not driving. We need at least as many restrictions on guns as we have on cars.


Posted by musical, a resident of the Palo Verde neighborhood, on Jan 17, 2013 at 9:58 am

Totalitarian regimes always thought the same way about typewriters.


Posted by David Pepperdine, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jan 17, 2013 at 10:21 am

Register guns.


Posted by KP, a resident of the South of Midtown neighborhood, on Jan 17, 2013 at 11:40 am

Registered guns are stolen (and reported stolen) then are usually used in crimes. They are throw-aways passed around through criminals. Some even have bodys on them...

Does anyone really think that a clean registered gun is used in crimes?!?! DUH!

Registering a gun means nothing in reality.

BTW - I don't like guns one bit, but I live in the real world of understanding!

If guns kill people...then pencils misspell words, cars make people drive drunk and forks make people fat!


Posted by patrick, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jan 17, 2013 at 12:45 pm

I would consider them to be culprits of the armed robbery of the liquor store on loma verde and middlefield due to the fact that a semi automatic handgun was also used in that robbery and also fit the same description........just a suggestion.


Posted by Gethin, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jan 17, 2013 at 12:49 pm

Missing in all of this is recognition for a job well done, which I for one sincerely appreciate

Thanks PD!


Posted by Janet, a resident of Menlo Park, on Jan 17, 2013 at 12:59 pm

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]


Posted by Hmmm, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Jan 17, 2013 at 1:25 pm

Janet - you & I both know that neighborhood isn't fully Latino. Moreover, it's mixed commercial & residential area, making it easier to hide. I'm glad it didn't turn into a shootout & that the crashed car didn't injure anyone. How lame is it to rob a jewelry store so close to a police substation?

Years ago, in Menlo, we weren't able to return home due to a major SWAT thingy near our house. Authorities had been looking for a barefoot (I think) bad guy for a couple of days. He was on foot & it took the K9 to find him, hiding in the bushes, right under the cops' noses. He was pretty resourceful, & since it was summer, the weather was ok. Sometimes luck is on the side of the desperado. What scares me about these guys is we don't know if they're armed.


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