Crime & Safety

Armed Robbery Reported at Murrieta Pick Up Stix

A suspect wearing a ski mask and carrying a black gun allegedly made off with some employee belongings in the robbery that was reported at 9:08 p.m. Sunday.

Employees of Pick Up Stix in Murrieta were held up Sunday night by a masked man carrying a black semi-automatic handgun, a police sergeant has confirmed.

The alleged armed robbery was reported at 9:08 p.m. at the 24635 Madison Ave. restaurant that had just closed for the day, according to Murrieta police Sgt. Daryl Underwood.

Murrieta police responded to learn that the suspect had entered through an unlocked door at the back of the business.

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“The employees were cleaning and wrapping it up for the night,” Underwood said. “There was a dishwasher there and some females in the office. It appears he took a couple of their personal belongings.”

The suspect, described as white male wearing a thick, red hooded sweatshirt, a black ski mask and jeans, ran from the business in an unknown direction, the sergeant said.

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“They knew he was white because they saw his skin underneath the mask,” Underwood said.

The suspect was further described as standing about 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds.

Underwood said a large perimeter was established in an effort to find the suspect.

At least two Murrieta police dogs and the sheriff’s helicopter aided in the search; the helicopter was seen checking a greenbelt area west of Kalmia Street as well as a self storage facility at the corner of Kalmia and Village Walk, according to a Patch reporter who was on scene.

As of 11 p.m., Underwood said the suspect had not been located.

Anyone with information regarding the incident or the suspect may call the Murrieta police dispatch line at 951-696-3615 and ask for the on-duty watch commander.

—Joe Fanaselle contributed to this report.


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