An investigation is underway into nearly a dozen armed robberies that took place overnight Wednesday throughout the county. Most of the robberies took place in gas stations and convenience stores.
The armed robberies occurred as far as North County in Bonsall and Deer Springs and back down to Barrio Logan and east to Santee and Lakeside, according to San Diego Police and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
The first robbery happened around 9:45 p.m. in Bonsall, and the last happened around 12:47 a.m. in Lakeside. Investigators told NBC 7 that all of them have very similar stories. Two to three men enter the store, in some cases at gunpoint, and take at least one cash register and take off.
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The robberies took place at the following locations, according to SDPD and SDSO:
- Bonsall: 5555 Mission Rd around 9:44 p.m.
- Deer Springs: 26915 Mesa Rock Rd. around 10:18 p.m.
- Grant Hill: 30th & Market around 11:28 p.m.
- Mira Mesa: 11205 Camino Ruiz around 11:39 p.m.
- Barrio Logan: 1145 S. 28th St. around 11:54 p.m.
- Lake Murray: 8780 Lake Murray Blvd. around 12:08 a.m.
- Santee: 9600 Carlton Hills Blvd. around 12:17 a.m.
- La Mesa: 4200 Spring St. around 12:22 a.m., confirmed by La Mesa Police
- Spring Valley: 9700 Campo Rd. around 12:27 a.m.
- Spring Valley: 481 Sweetwater Rd. around 12:34 a.m.
- Lakeside: 10100 Maine Ave. around 12:47 a.m.
NBC 7 spoke to a clerk at a 7-Eleven in Mira Mesa that was robbed around 11:40 p.m. He said two suspects entered the store, put a gun to his head, and told him he was being robbed. Shortly after, the suspects stole two registers and tried to steal a third. The clerk was not injured, and he said this is the first time in the five years he’s worked there that he’s been robbed.
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No shots were fired in any of the robberies, and authorities tell NBC 7 that no arrests have been made.
San Diego Police said that over the past six weeks, several armed "take-over style" robberies have occurred around the county. Police believe that at least 10 of those robberies are committed by the same group and say the same group may be responsible for other robberies.
Police describe the suspects as young men wearing hooded sweatshirts and masks and are said to enter the stores in groups brandishing guns at store clerks while demanding money and products.
NBC 7 spoke with a clerk at a Spring Valley 7-Eleven that was robbed. He said his colleague informed him that two suspects entered the store with backpacks on. They went behind the cash registers, took the money and walked out, leaving his colleague shaken up.
Leslie Solano works at a hair salon right next door to that 7-Eleven.
“It makes me feel like unsafe. And more during the night. I feel like that's when things more tend to happen. And it's just like a lot of people here come with their family and stuff," Solano said.
There have also been a plethora of home burglaries over the last few months. San Diego police have been investigating those as well.
Police are asking for the public's help in identifying any suspects involved.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Robbery Unit at (619) 531-2299 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
The investigation is ongoing.
