Update: Photos of Starbucks Robbery Released by La Mesa Police

Updated at 7 p.m. Tuesday

In La Mesa’s latest armed robbery, the Starbucks at 5416 Lake Murray Blvd. was held up by two black men wearing masks and baggy clothes, police said Monday night. Surveillance photos of the incident were released Tuesday afternoon (attached).

One handgun was used in the holdup reported at 8:26 p.m. at the coffeeshop at Lake Murray and Kiowa Drive, near the entrance to Lake Murray, said police Lt. Matt Nicholass.

No customers were present and nobody was injured, he said.

The men fled on foot toward the 5300 block of Kiowa, and the sheriff’s ASTREA helicopter was used for a half-hour before being called off the search, which extended as far as the old Coleman College property, Nicholass said.

“Two subjects, one armed with a handgun, entered the Starbucks, ordered all the employees to the ground and demanded the money from the business,” police said.  “The employees cooperated with the suspects demands and the suspects fled on foot.  They were last seen running southbound on Kiowa Drive from Lake Murray Boulevard.”

The assailants were described thusly:

Suspect #1:  Black male, mid 20s, 5-foot-9 to 5-10, 180-190 pounds. He was wearing a dark blue button-up shirt, dark blue pants, dark grey hooded sweatshirt, black wool type gloves and white shoes.  The suspect had a black ski mask over his face. 

Suspect #2:  Black male, mid 20s, 5-9 to 5-10, 180-190 pounds.  He was wearing a light grey sweatshirt with a blue T-shirt over it, dark blue pants, a grey bennie cap and white shoes.  The suspect had a black scarf over his face.  He was armed with a black handgun.       

A Nixle alert to avoid the area was lifted about 9:15 p.m.

Last week, La Mesa merchants were told at a police forum that 10 armed robberies had taken place in October. Store operators were encouraged to be vigilant with security measures.

Anyone with information on this case or others is asked to call the La Mesa Police Department at 619-667-1400.

You may also call Crime Stoppers’ anonymous toll-free tip line at 888-580-TIPS (or sdcrimestoppers.com). You can remain anonymous, and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case.