Red-Bearded Robber Sought In Petaluma Robbery, Attempted Robbery

PETALUMA, CA — A search is on for a man who robbed a Petaluma business Thursday at gunpoint, then attempted to rob a second business, according to the Petaluma Police Department. Police say the red-bearded robber entered Staples, 207 South McDowell Boulevard in the Washington Square Shopping Center, at 5:35 p.m. and waited in the customer service line.

"Once at the counter, the suspect displayed a silver revolver and demanded cash from the employee," said Petaluma police Sgt. Aaron Garihan. "The employee alerted management and the suspect exited the store and fled in an unknown direction. No cash or items of value were taken in the robbery."

While officers were investigating the botched Staples robbery, Petaluma police dispatchers received a report of an armed robbery at Subway, 2620 Lakeville Highway.

An employee of the Subway called and told police that about 20 minutes prior, a man approached the counter of the sandwich shop, flashed a silver revolver and demanded cash, Garihan said.

The robber made off with a small amount of merchandise but employees did not see which direction he went.

"Based on the victim employee’s description of the suspect and surveillance footage captured at the scenes, it is believed the same suspect is responsible for both robberies," Garihan said.

The suspect was described as a white man between 20 and 30 years old with a red beard and red mustache. He was wearing a white hooded sweatshirt, dark-colored sunglasses, jeans and white shoes.

The Petaluma Police Department released a surveillance image of the suspect and asked anyone who recognizes him, or has any other information related to the investigation, to call Officer Sutherland at 707-776-3721.