Updated: Gunman Robs LCF Starbucks, Strikes Customer

A gunman who ordered two  employees to the floor before making off with $1,500, struck an elderly customer who apparently took him by surprise, police said.

Lt. Marjory Jacobs of Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station said Monday that a 70-year-old woman emerged from the back of the store startling the gunman about 9 p.m. Sunday night as employees had been closing the store at 475 Foothill Blvd.

The unidentified man pointed a semi-automatic handgun at two employees and ordered they take money out of the cash registers and then forced them at gunpoint to walk into the storeroom. 

According to a press release issued Monday night, Sgt. Ray Harley said the suspect ordered one clerk to lay on the floor while he had the other clerk give him additional money from the storeroom's safe. The clerks were ordered by the suspect to remain on the floor as he walked out of the storeroom with approximately $1,500.

The only patron in the store at the time, the 70-year-old female who was visiting from out of state, was seated at a table and unaware that the robbery was taking place, the press release states. Knowing it was closing time, and the only customer left in the store, the woman stopped at the counter to tell the clerks she was heading out. She could hear a commotion in the rear storeroom, but was unable to get the attention of either clerk, Harley said. 

Moments later, the suspect walked quickly out of the storeroom and he said something to the woman. Still not realizing the man was robbing the store, she asked him to repeat himself because she didn’t understand what he said to her.

That's when she noticed that the suspect was pointing a handgun at her. Before she could react, the man struck her on the face with his hand that was holding the gun.  The woman fell to the floor, where she hit her head.

The customer was treated for her injuries at a local hospital and released. The two clerks were shaken up by the robbery, but were unharmed.

The suspect was last seen exiting the front door of the store in an unknown direction, and no vehicle was seen.  The suspect is further described as wearing a long black jacket, a black shirt, baggy blue jeans, a black baseball cap with a white logo, and black gloves. He covered the lower part of his face with either a black scarf or the collar of a turtle neck shirt. 

Anyone who may have information about this robbery is asked to contact the Crescenta Valley Station Detective Bureau at 818-248-3464, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

This story was first reported in the Glendale News-Press.