Suspects Sought in Attempted Robbery at Belmont Smoke Shop

Belmont police asked for the public's help this week in finding two men who tried to rob a local smoke shop. 
 
Belmont Police Captain Patrick Halleran says the attempted robbery happened around 9 p.m. on Friday, June 27, at the Belmont Smoke Shop in the 300 block of El Camino.
 
According to the captain, the owner of the shop had opened a back door at the location for ventilation purposes, which is where the two suspects entered. 
 
"One of the suspects brandished a dark semi-automatic handgun at the store owner and demanded money," Halleran said in a news release. 
 
That's when a 70-year-old man who was a customer at the shop ran outside, and called 911.  The suspects saw him do this, and ran back out the back door without getting a dime.
 
"Belmont Police arrived on-scene within a minute of the call and conducted an area search for the suspects, which included assistance from a airplane from the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office," Halleran said.  "In spite of an extensive search, the suspects were not located." 
 
Halleran described both men as Hispanic, about 5 foot 6 inches tall, with medium builds.  Both of them had on dark clothing and masks.   

"A black air-soft type replica handgun and a pair of black sweatpants were found discarded a short distance from the store," according to the captain. 
 
Anyone with information related to this attempted robbery is asked to call Belmont police at (650) 595-7400.

No injuries were reported in the incident.