Drive-thru robbers may be behind other crimes

SACRAMENTO — Authorities are looking for the suspects behind a violent armed robbery attempt at a fast-food restaurant earlier this month.

On Saturday, Sept. 18 at 6:24 a.m., a vehicle entered the drive-thru of a fast-food restaurant located in the 3700 block of Northgate Boulevard. A male passenger from the vehicle got out and approached the employee at the drive-thru window. The suspect demanded money at gunpoint and pistol-whipped the employee when she was unable to open the register, then fled in the vehicle.

The suspect was described as a white or Hispanic male in his 20s with a medium build. He was wearing a black jacket with yellow writing on it. He had a tattoo on the top portion of his left hand. The suspect vehicle was a mid-1990s black Honda Accord. The driver was described as a Hispanic male in his 20s.

The suspects in this robbery may have committed two other robberies in the area. On Friday, Sept. 17 at 2:03 p.m., an employee of a recycling center near the 600 block of Rio Tierra Avenue was robbed at gunpoint. The following morning at 5:18, an employee at the drive-thru window of a fast-food restaurant in the 2700 block of Del Paso Road was robbed at gunpoint. The suspects and vehicle were similarly described in all of the robberies.

Detectives are releasing the surveillance video of the robbery from the 3700 block of Northgate Boulevard in hopes that someone will recognize the suspect and come forward with information needed to identify him.

The Sacramento Police Department urges anyone with information pertaining to this crime to contact Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP or text in a tip to 274637 (CRIMES). Enter SACTIP followed by the tip information. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

A surveillance image of the suspect who pistol-whipped a fast food restaurant employee when she was unable to open the cash register at gunpoint.