Police Investigate Fruitless Robbery With Handgun

Pleasant Hill police are sharing notes with other agencies, hoping to get a lead on a pair of robbers who apparently ran off with no cash after flashing an automatic handgun with an extended magazine at a residential Safeway Friday night.

"We'll catch these guys if they keep doing them (robberies)," said Detective Gary Brown Tuesday.

No shots were fired in the 9:10 p.m. Friday incident at the Safeway at the corner of Patterson and Oak Park boulevards. An employee was unable to get an employee card to register and allow her to open the cash register drawer. In frustration, the would-be robber tapped the woman in the head with the gun, but not hard enough to cause an injury, said Brown. With the drawer unopened, the two robbers ran off, apparently without money, Brown said.

Police have been examining video footage that doesn't allow a clear view of the faces of the robbers, who were wearing hoodies, Brown said. The video shows the robber with the gun coming in the door and initially pointing the gun at an employee with a shopping cart who might have been stocking shelves, Brown said. Then the would-be robber moved on to the cash register.

"They didn't plan this well," said Brown. "I can tell you that."

Both robbers were described as black males, age 19 to 25. The one with the gun was described as 6-foot-4 and wearing red Nike sneakers. His accomplice was described as being shorter with a thin build. He carried a white plastic bag which was apparently for cash.

They were last seen headed out of the store and toward the red fence at the north end of the parking lot. Brown said no witnesses saw them getting into a vehicle.

If you have any pertinent information, you may call Pleasant Hill police at (925) 288-4634.