Armed Robber At Watsonville Del Taco Unable to Access Safe, Flees With Cell Phones

An armed man tried and failed to break into a safe during a robbery at a fast food restaurant in Watsonville Saturday morning, but left with two employee-owned cellphones instead, according to police.

The incident was reported by employees at a Del Taco at 1401 Main St. at 7:43 a.m. Saturday, after they ran to safety and called 911, police said.

A man with a large black handgun entered the lobby of the restaurant through a door with a damaged lock, though it was not clear whether or not the lock was damaged in the course of the robbery or at some earlier point in time.

A female employee saw the suspect enter the lobby and quickly locked the door to the kitchen area where other employees were able to exit through a back door, police said.

The suspect went to the counter as the female employee escaped through the main restaurant doors, according to police.

The suspect was wearing black clothing with a hooded sweatshirt covering his face.

No additional details on his description were available this morning, according to police. He was last seen running towards Main Street, police said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Watsonville Police Department at (831) 471-1151 or police investigations bureau at (831) 768-3352.

--Bay City News

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