Saratoga News

Two armed robbers strike Argonaut Center Safeway

By Michelle Alaimo

The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department is investigating an armed robbery that occurred at Safeway Supermarket on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road on Aug. 12.

According to Lt. Cary Colla of the Sheriff's Westside substation, two men--one armed with a handgun--fled the store in a white late-model American car with an undisclosed amount of money at 12:30 a.m.

Colla said that during the incident, a black male knocked on the store manager's door. The manager on duty told police he looked through the peephole but didn't see anyone. The suspect then allegedly knocked again, and the employee opened the door because no one was visible through the peephole, Colla said. The man, approximately 5 feet, 11 inches tall and dressed in black from head to toe, pulled a gun and wedged his foot in the door so that it could not be shut by the employee.

Two other female clerks were also in the office counting money, and the safe was open, Colla said. All three employees were ordered to get down while the suspect rummaged through the safe, Colla said.

Customers were in the 24-hour grocery store, located in the Argonaut Shopping Center, at the time of the robbery, and they were glad that no one was hurt, Safeway officials said.

Colla said it appeared there was an accomplice who stood near a checkstand during the incident. He is described as either black or Filipino, 5 feet,10 inches tall with a medium build and straight black hair.

Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to call the Sheriff's Department's Westside Substation at 867-9719.

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