The Shell gas station on Embarcadero Road off Highway 101 in Palo Alto was robbed at gunpoint early Wednesday morning, Palo Alto police Lt. Sandra Brown said. (View press release)
Brown said a man wearing a stocking cap approached the teller, brandished a handgun and demanded cash. The suspect fled with an unknown amount of money. Brown said there was a "communication barrier" between the suspect and the teller, who didn't speak much English.
The suspect fled north through Edgewood Shopping Center, Brown said. Officers responded immediately and used a K-9 police dog to help search for the suspect, though they were unable to locate him.
The suspect is described as a black male, about 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing approximately 120 pounds and wearing a gray sweatshirt and a stocking cap.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Palo Alto police at 650-329-2413 or by e-mailing the department's anonymous tip line at paloalto@tipnow.org.
Comments
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 6, 2010 at 10:06 am
on Oct 6, 2010 at 10:06 am
Perhaps this is the crime that warrants a police helicopter?
The question is worth asking as to whether the deserted Edgewood Plaza is a beacon for the criminal intended?
Fairmeadow
on Oct 6, 2010 at 10:28 am
on Oct 6, 2010 at 10:28 am
As the economy keeps degrading, more and more of these types of offenses will occur.
The suspect obviously had a vehicle waiting around the back of the Plaza. People don't just walk out of their home and go rob the gas station in their own neighborhood. Early morning was about the only time to hit this gas station because police have routinely just sat there and fill out paper work, or just doddle doing what ever police do to kill time in their vehicles.
This man is from a neighboring community, that is near 101. Maybe EPA, Maybe Redwood City. It would have to be a community that is nearby because he would have to case the place a day or two before actually robbing it. I would go through last weeks surveillance and try to id the assailant, or anyone acting suspiciously, as a look out accomplice. There maybe a vehicle that the accomplice got into, that would be a good starting lead.
The fact that it was hit in the early morning means it was planned because there is alot of traffic and patrons in that plaza during regular hours. On the basis of him leaving through the plaza on foot, means he either had an accomplice waiting for him, or parked his vehicle somewhere back there. There may be a witness who saw the suspect, or his vehicle.
Im just thankful no one got hurt, and I hope that the owner of the Shell station recieves justice for whats happened.
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 6, 2010 at 11:38 am
on Oct 6, 2010 at 11:38 am
Sorry to hear that this happen in the early morning, you can say what you want when they took prayer out of schools and the government and state tried to be the parents and get involved in everybodies business this is what took place. now everything is out of hand!it will get worst as the economy isn't getting any better and the government isn't doing trying to step in to help those that are in need but the poor will be with you always! and the protest and angry people can solve this problem only if we get back to praying then it will turn around!!!
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 6, 2010 at 12:49 pm
on Oct 6, 2010 at 12:49 pm
The article does not mention whether, or not, surveillance cameras have been installed at the station. Given its exposure to Highway 101, it would be irresponsible of the owners not to have several of these cameras deployed.
Barron Park
on Oct 6, 2010 at 12:54 pm
on Oct 6, 2010 at 12:54 pm
was the suspect using a Droid cell phone? guess the helicopter ran out of gas. they could have killed two birds with one stone last night lol.
Midtown
on Oct 6, 2010 at 2:10 pm
on Oct 6, 2010 at 2:10 pm
of course ,white males will never be profiled no matter how many white bank robbers. people might want to know that black so called criminals do not necessarily ''rob'' for the money. it may be just frustration and wanting to get back for constant social pressure and blame of the people of slavery's harvest. the black man. you say you had nothing to do with slavery, but as a ''white'' you are benefitting by being ''white''. you are rarely followed by cops because of racial features. black men are always seen as''guilty'' even if they even verbally protect themself from harassment. you as a black are always seen as the instigator. you blame the black man for his horrible condition in the usa.
Crescent Park
on Oct 6, 2010 at 3:04 pm
on Oct 6, 2010 at 3:04 pm
How did they rob that station? Doesn't it have bulletproof glass all around it and locked up so no one can get inside after a certain time?
I don't want to sound alarmist but as I walk in Palo Alto quite a bit after dark, I am starting to see a lot of questionable people running around in the night, ie. lone males dressed in dark clothes that do not make eye contact or say hello.
There is something going on. Also from what I am reading the several home invasions that happened, I think we all need to be aware and have police cruising around checking people out at night. Is that too draconian or police statish?
I seriously wonder what there is that will stop any rash of these home invasions once a few are successful and it is clear it can be done?
Crescent Park
on Oct 6, 2010 at 3:09 pm
on Oct 6, 2010 at 3:09 pm
pidd .... I think you have a very good point, but is part of it that white males should accept whatever is done by non-white males? Is this supposed to be because of guilt, or lack of interest in social and economic justice?
What's is the way to get past this? I have absolutely no interest in dumping on non-white people or poor people, but all we are doing lately is making everyone more desperate anxious and fearful.
What is the solution besides griping and saying things that may just cause more divisiveness?
Crescent Park
on Oct 6, 2010 at 4:55 pm
on Oct 6, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Can we please rebuild Edgewood? Could be a fantastic mixed-use development. Instead it sits largely empty. It hasn't been the same since the pizza place moved out in the early 90s, that was great pizza.
Crescent Park
on Oct 6, 2010 at 10:44 pm
on Oct 6, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Evan, I pass Edgewood almost daily though I do not live in the immediate neighborhood.
The problem I see with it is traffic for one. That area is the biggest pain in the neck to negotiate practically in the city. Most of the time there is a steady stream of cars, and they all have to be moving at 25 mph in that area.
It's almost impossible to take a left turn coming out of the Shell station, or any of the streets there, and turning into the center is also complicated.
The site is very small. Any supermarket is destined to be another very small market, underwhelming, like the new Trader Joe's at Town & Country.
If much more goes into it, and in addition someone was talking about housing, how is all the traffic supposed to get in and out, let alone find parking? What is a nice neighborhood protected by difficult traffic is going to be invaded by a lot of people and cars. What happened the old Lucky store is going to end up happing there and that all the marginal people end up going there and making the whole area a drag.
I just think a lot of care and thought needs to go into whatever Edgewood ends up being, and whatever it is it should have its own parking ... which means that putting in underground or a parking structure is going to be difficult because I read that for some reason the City wants to keep the old SuperMarket as some kind of historic building. To me, that is just insane. That building is a piece of junk, wildy small and inefficient and not worth saving.
Evergreen Park
on Oct 7, 2010 at 1:14 pm
on Oct 7, 2010 at 1:14 pm
"they took prayer out of schools and the government and state tried to be the parents and get involved in everybodies business this is what took place."
Be careful what you ask for. We used to have prayer in public schools back in the forties and fifties, and look what happened: the kids grew up and became hippies and other assorted leftie radicals.
Midtown
on Oct 7, 2010 at 1:59 pm
on Oct 7, 2010 at 1:59 pm
too many whites think that talking about race'' brings ''diviseiveness''. thats precisely the point. any talk about race inequality makes whites fearfu. or thinking it means that it makes black men want to get away with crimes because they talk about race. thats EXACTLY the police attitude. you mention ''race'' and they think youre using it as an excuse! so you can NEVER mention RACE without it being seen as ''white people must let black men get away with things blah blah'' the ''diviseiveness'' is in your own white mind. no one can help you .you are lost. you cant talk about race without it being seen as a way'' for non whites to get away with things''. you perpetuate the race problem with your white paranoia. you are why these ''crimes'' happen .you refuse to examine the fact that america is racially hopeless. you cannot complain when it comes to an end. you only have your prejudices to live with.
another community
on Oct 8, 2010 at 12:26 am
on Oct 8, 2010 at 12:26 am
Less racism, less crime!
Green Acres
on Oct 13, 2010 at 12:20 pm
on Oct 13, 2010 at 12:20 pm
smart power: no...it is that too many AMERICANS have overcome all kinds of "isms" from color-ism to gender-ism to being born to the wrong parent(s) to disabilities and have managed to take responsibility for our own lives, our own choices and our own consequences, and we are sick to death of enabling a victim mentality which does nothing but keep the "victim" enslaved, believing that somehow he is trapped and can't get out, believing that somehow he is "less" because of gender or color, and therefore dependent on the "mores" to "give" to him. Successful adults don't think that way.
Time to move forward, get to school, get to work, adapt and assimilate into society, and quit whining.
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 13, 2010 at 12:27 pm
on Oct 13, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Bad guys (or gals) are bad guys, regardless of skin color. No excuses.
Saying that, there are also the monkey see, monkey do, attitudes that bad guys mirror what they have seen in their adult role models.