Soquel Home Depot store robbed at gunpoint
SOQUEL — Sheriff's deputies evacuated Home Depot on 41st Avenue so police dogs could search the cavernous store for two armed robbers who stole about $300 just before 5 p.m. Friday.
One of the robbers, described as a Latino man in his 30s wearing a red shirt, approached an employee and asked for money. He then lifted his shirt to show a small handgun tucked into his waistband, according to emergency radio traffic. A second man, who was heavy-set and his 40s wearing a yellow shirt, was with the armed man.
No shots were fired and no one was hurt.
The man in the yellow shirt left through the parking lot toward 41st Avenue while the armed man in the red shirt fled through the store toward Soquel Drive. The employee who was robbed tried to keep sight of the armed robber, but lost him for a couple of moments, according to the Sheriff's Office.
A plainclothes sheriff's detective was on-scene within moments of the 911 call.
Although deputies suspect the robbers got away, they emptied the store of employees and customers so a Santa Cruz police dog could run through the building and confirm the robbers were not hiding inside, according to emergency radio traffic.
California Highway Patrol officers also were called out to limit traffic into the parking lot, which also serves Best Buy, Safeway and several smaller stores.
source: http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_15185074?source=rss