3 Arrested In Connection With SF Richmond District Robberies
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Three men have been arrested in connection with a series of robberies in San Francisco's Richmond District, police said Wednesday.
The arrests came after officers responded to a report of a robbery at a store in the 5800 block of Geary Boulevard around 2:45 p.m. Friday.
Two suspects armed with handguns, one wearing a ski mask, entered the business and ordered an employee to lie on the ground, according to police.
The suspects used a hammer to smash a glass display case and steal jewelry, at which point a second employee came out of the back of the store, causing the suspects to run away, police said.
The employee gave chase as at least one suspect got into a gray Volkswagen on 23rd Avenue and drove away toward Clement Street.
Later that day, investigators found the Volkswagen parked in the 100 block of 22nd Avenue. The car was unattended but had several items inside, including a hammer and ski mask, according to police.
One of the suspects was found at Geary Boulevard and Webster Street and two others were located at a home in the 400 block of 28th Avenue, police said. All three arrests occurred Friday.
The suspects, ages 23, 48 and 50, were arrested on suspicion of robbery, burglary and conspiracy. Their names are not yet being released, police Sgt. Mike Andraychak said.
Investigators have also tied the suspects to at least three other armed robberies—one on Aug. 18 at a restaurant in the 4400 block of Cabrillo Street, another at a store in the 2100 block of Clement Street on Aug. 20, and a third at a business in the 3900 block of Balboa Street on Friday, police said.
Anyone with information on these cases is asked to call the Police Department's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or send a tip by text message to TIP411.
(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)