Crime & Safety

Robbery Attempts at Two La Mesa Businesses Target Employees

Two attempted armed robberies are reported hours apart, both involving employees at closing time.

Police are searching for suspects in two attempted armed robberies in La Mesa Friday night and early Saturday morning. No injuries were reported but the suspects are still at large, police said.

Around 9:45 p.m. Friday, two men entered the Lake Murray Café on Lake Murray Boulevard and ordered three employees into the kitchen, according to La Mesa police. One of the suspects was armed with a silver handgun, police said.

The robbers tried to open a safe but they couldn’t get it open, then they demanded cash from the employees, who complied and gave them all the cash that they had, according to police.

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Police officers surrounded the area, but a search for the suspects was unsuccessful. They were last seen running westbound away from the restaurant.

Police described both suspects as black males, medium build, wearing a dark hoodie, black gloves, black pants, black shoes, with a white covering over their face.

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Hours later, at 1:55 a.m., two employees leaving On Cue Billiards on Parkway Drive noticed a man armed with a handgun running in their direction, according to police.

The employees ran back into the building and one tried to lock the door, according to police. The suspect pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at the employee and said, “Give me the money.”

After noticing another employee inside the business, the suspect became nervous and fled without taking any money, according to police. He was last seen running westbound on Parkway Drive.

Police searched the area with assistance from a sheriff’s helicopter, but the suspect was not located. He was described as a black male, 5 feet 11 inches tall, with black curly, oily hair, wearing a black baseball cap, sunglasses, a dark-colored bandana over his face, a dark-colored T-shirt, black pants, black gloves and dark shoes.

Anyone with information about either case may be eligible for a cash reward by calling Crime Stoppers’ hotline, (888) 580-TIPS, or visiting www.sdcrimestoppers.com.


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