Hollister
– With the weekend approaching and a string of recent armed
robberies on their minds, local business owners are taking extra
precautions and police are on high alert.
Hollister – With the weekend approaching and a string of recent armed robberies on their minds, local business owners are taking extra precautions and police are on high alert.
Police continue to investigate the four robberies, which have taken place between 10pm and midnight on each weekend of April. The robberies have involved either one or two masked men armed with either a gun or a knife, Officer Rosie Betanio, a spokeswoman for the Hollister Police Department said.
Some business owners are concerned and the managers of the stores that have been robbed are taking extra safety precautions.
Reza Farr, who manages Neighborhood Pizza on Tres Pinos Road, said the knifepoint robbery just before midnight on April 7 was the first at the restaurant in more than 30 years. The robber made off with about $400, Farr said.
The pizza place will take more precautions when the sun sets on weekends, Farr said.
“Definitely more employees at night time,” he said. “We’re going to start securing the building by closing the doors.”
Although the store lost money, Farr was just thankful none of his employees were hurt.
“The life of people is worth more than $400,” Farr said.
Jaime Tostado, manager of Super Taqueria on Tres Pinos Road, said that the two masked men who entered the restaurant at 10:15pm on Sunday did not get any money.
An assistant manager told the men that the store’s money was outside, Tostado said.
Only one of the men was armed, Tostado said, and the unarmed robber followed the assistant manager outside. Once separated, the two would-be thieves fled, Tostado said.
“That’s the first time that it’s happened here,” Tostado said.
Tostado said the unarmed man fled through a hole in the fence on the side of the store.
In the wake of the robbery, Tostado said, all doors will be locked during night time and the garbage will be taken out early.
Betanio said the two masked men who left the taqueria robbed G & J Liquors on San Felipe Road just 15 minutes later.
On April 1, El Grullense, a restaurant on Fourth Street, was robbed at gunpoint by two men wearing black nylon masks, gloves, and hoods and hats. About $800 in cash was taken during the robbery, which occurred at 11:31pm, police said.
The men involved in that robbery were both described as 5-foot-10 and about 225 pounds, police said.
Authorities have no suspects, but are continuing to review evidence collected from the scene of the robberies, Capt. Bob Brooks said.
Brooks said the four robberies may have been committed by the same men.
“It’s not uncommon to see a rash,” the captain said. “It would indicate that it is the same group.”
Betanio said local business owners should not be worried this weekend, but should be aware of their surroundings if something happens.
“Be a witness, not a hero,” Betanio said.
The Hollister Police Department will have extra officers on patrol and will be focusing on commercial businesses, Betanio said.
“If people find something suspicious, give us a call,” Betanio said. “We’d be more than happy to come out and investigate it.”
And although some business owners are concerned, Danny Yu, who has owned Sam’s Liquors on San Benito Street for more than three years, said he believes the robberies will eventually stop.
“As a convenience store we do have a concern,” Yu said. “But I believe it’s going to go away.”
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or mv*********@fr***********.com.
