News

Chinese restaurant robbed at gunpoint

Man passes register, robs owner instead

An armed robber held up Gold Chopsticks Chinese restaurant Dec. 3 but didn't get any money from the register.

Jenny Ling, who runs the restaurant with her husband, said she was sitting behind the take-out counter near the cash register when the holdup man ran in, right past her. Instead, the man approached her husband, who was near some corner tables, not far from where a single table of diners was eating.

Her husband took out his wallet when confronted by the robber.

"He took money from his wallet. ... The guy was crazy," Ling said, explaining that her husband gave the man several twenties.

She said the man was unhappy with what he was given and grabbed the remainder of the money from the wallet.

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"I got mad and said, 'Why'd you take all the money?' and he pointed the gun at me," she said.

The man then ran from the restaurant, which is on Santa Rita Road near West Las Positas Boulevard. Ling described him as a thin black man, 18 to 25 years old. A complete description was not available from the Police Department.

A K-9 search was ordered, according to a police report. No arrest was made.

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Chinese restaurant robbed at gunpoint

Man passes register, robs owner instead

by Glenn Wohltmann / Pleasanton Weekly

Uploaded: Thu, Dec 8, 2011, 7:19 am
Updated: Fri, Dec 9, 2011, 6:52 am

An armed robber held up Gold Chopsticks Chinese restaurant Dec. 3 but didn't get any money from the register.

Jenny Ling, who runs the restaurant with her husband, said she was sitting behind the take-out counter near the cash register when the holdup man ran in, right past her. Instead, the man approached her husband, who was near some corner tables, not far from where a single table of diners was eating.

Her husband took out his wallet when confronted by the robber.

"He took money from his wallet. ... The guy was crazy," Ling said, explaining that her husband gave the man several twenties.

She said the man was unhappy with what he was given and grabbed the remainder of the money from the wallet.

"I got mad and said, 'Why'd you take all the money?' and he pointed the gun at me," she said.

The man then ran from the restaurant, which is on Santa Rita Road near West Las Positas Boulevard. Ling described him as a thin black man, 18 to 25 years old. A complete description was not available from the Police Department.

A K-9 search was ordered, according to a police report. No arrest was made.

Comments

Darren
Mission Park
on Dec 8, 2011 at 8:32 am
Darren, Mission Park
on Dec 8, 2011 at 8:32 am


Can't wait until one of these robbers chooses some of us more "prepared" citizens.


Vanessa
Pleasanton Meadows
on Dec 8, 2011 at 8:44 am
Vanessa, Pleasanton Meadows
on Dec 8, 2011 at 8:44 am

Aww, we love that place! Glad to hear only some money was taken and no one was hurt. Just sickening how people take hard-earned money from others that does not belong to them. Get a freaking job you sick drains on society. :(


Flora
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Dec 8, 2011 at 10:05 am
Flora, Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Dec 8, 2011 at 10:05 am

This is why California needs Florida-style gun laws rather than California-style gun laws. When Florida started letting everyone that wanted to (except felons) to carry heat, there was a huge drop in crimes committed with guns.


Cholo
Livermore
on Dec 8, 2011 at 10:24 am
Cholo, Livermore
on Dec 8, 2011 at 10:24 am

This is tragic. I happy to learn that nobody was shot.


Jeffrey
Fairlands Elementary School
on Dec 8, 2011 at 11:38 am
Jeffrey, Fairlands Elementary School
on Dec 8, 2011 at 11:38 am

Love the Gold Chopsticks..been a favorite spot here for the 20 plus years I have lived here. hate to see this and glad to hear you and your husband were not hurt jennie...

Folks, be careful when you are out shopping this time of year..desperate times create desperate measures..don't become a statistic...Happy Holidays to all...


Carlos
Highland Oaks
on Dec 8, 2011 at 12:35 pm
Carlos, Highland Oaks
on Dec 8, 2011 at 12:35 pm

I'm getting tired of hearing about desperate times creating desperate measures. I'm thinking the "people" commiting armed robbery in Pleasanton haven't suddenly found themselves out of work. They are life long predators who have never worked.


anonie
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Dec 8, 2011 at 1:17 pm
anonie, Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Dec 8, 2011 at 1:17 pm

This restaurant has been a family favorite for years, the food is great and very reasonably priced. The owners and staff are very friendly. Glad nobody was hurt. I hope the police catch this punk thug!


Pete
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Dec 8, 2011 at 2:53 pm
Pete , Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Dec 8, 2011 at 2:53 pm

It required 30 seconds for the PPD to respond to a call from Meadowlark Dr., Southwest Pleasanton. The road construction on Santa Rita Rd.,Northeast Pleasanton, prohibits a quick response time, IMO. Hope the guy wasn't mistaken Gold Chopsticks with, We Buy Gold, further North on Santa Rita. Have enjoyed their food over the years.


loveChopSticks
Downtown
on Dec 8, 2011 at 2:55 pm
loveChopSticks, Downtown
on Dec 8, 2011 at 2:55 pm

Glad he didn't get any GOLD Chopsticks!


M
Vintage Hills Elementary School
on Dec 8, 2011 at 7:34 pm
M, Vintage Hills Elementary School
on Dec 8, 2011 at 7:34 pm

The owner did the classic right thing handing over his wallet and being non confrontational to protect his person and those inside the restaurant. Losing money or property is a loss, but nothing compared to losing a life. LOVE Gold Chopsticks, btw!


LoveGoldCho!
Pleasanton Meadows
on Dec 8, 2011 at 10:43 pm
LoveGoldCho!, Pleasanton Meadows
on Dec 8, 2011 at 10:43 pm

I LOVE Golden Chopsticks! Glad to know no one was shot. Gold Chopsticks is so friendly... LOVE their food!


Mike
Highland Oaks
on Dec 10, 2011 at 3:02 pm
Mike, Highland Oaks
on Dec 10, 2011 at 3:02 pm

And people say law enforcement is a high-stress job.

Mike


Miss Vivian
Birdland
on Dec 12, 2011 at 1:02 pm
Miss Vivian, Birdland
on Dec 12, 2011 at 1:02 pm

One of our favorite restaurants. I'm so sorry this happened, I know it will stay in the owners' minds for a long, long time. I hope the man is caught and punished.


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