SLO Boba Stop robbed, police searching for serial robber

September 22, 2016

A man carrying a handgun robbed a San Luis Obispo tea shop Tuesday night. Police say the incident marked the sixth armed robbery in the city over the last three months and the fourth in September.

In each of the robberies, witnesses have provided similar descriptions of the suspect, according to police. Detectives are searching for a primary suspect, as well as an accomplice who has at least once served as a lookout.

Around 11 p.m. Tuesday, a man entered the Boba Stop, which is located at 578 California Boulevard and approached the clerk behind the counter. The suspect displayed a handgun and told the store clerk to hand over all the money in the cash register.

The clerk gave the suspect cash from the register, and the robber fled by foot towards Taft Street.

Witnesses described the suspect as a 6 foot 2 inch tall white male with blue eyes. He was wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and a grey bandana covering his face.

The recent string of robberies in San Luis Obispo began in late June. At 10:30 p.m. on June 26, the Lexington Inn was robbed. Then, Trader Joes was robbed on July 3 at 9:30 p.m.; San Luis Fish and Bar-B-Que was robbed on Sept. 5 at 8:46 p.m.; Panda Express was robbed on Sept. 9 at 2:10 p.m. and Sally Beauty Supply was robbed on Sept. 17 at 4:06 p.m.

In each of the robberies, a suspect showed a firearm and demanded cash. Witness have described the suspect as being a white male with blue eyes, who is possibly in his 20s. Estimates of the suspect’s height range from 5 foot 10 inches to 6 foot 2 inches tall.

During all of the robberies, the suspect wore dark clothing and some sort of face covering. The face coverings included a silver metallic-type mask, a blue surgical mask and a bandana.

Police say the suspect may be working with an accomplice. Witnesses reported seeing a look-out during the San Luis Fish and Bar-B-Que robbery. The second suspect was described as wearing dark clothing and a mask.

During most of the robberies, the suspect fled by foot. After robbing Trader Joe’s, though, the suspect fled in an older model gold sedan.

Surveillance footage from Panda Express shows the suspect was wearing a black wrap or sweatband around his right wrist, which was possibly covering a tattoo or another identifiable feature.

San Luis Obispo police say similar robberies have also occurred recently in other areas of the county.

Investigators request that anyone who has information about the robberies or the suspect or suspects call the police department. Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the capture of the suspect or suspects.