Baskin-Robbins robber same as in other holdups?

Pleasanton police say a Friday afternoon robbery attempt at Baskin-Robbins at 4001 Santa Rita Road was likely the work of the same man in two other recent robberies.

A man entered the ice cream shop around 12:05 p.m. and handed a demand note to store employees, police said. The workers refused and the suspect ran away.

Pleasanton police Sgt. Kurt Schlehuber said the man’s physical description and method of operation match those of the man involved in a Dec. 17 strong-arm robbery at Behind the Door Beauty Boutique on Hopyard Avenue and a Dec. 23 robbery at the UPS Store on Pimlico Drive.

In both those cases, the man presented a note, a clerk complied, and he left with cash.

The man in Friday’s robbery attempt was described as white, mid-30s, about 6 feet tall and 200 to 220 pounds. He had facial stubble and was last seen wearing a gray beanie, short dark gray pea coat, blue acid-wash jeans and gray sunglasses with oval frames.

In the two other holdups, the man was described as roughly similar in height and weight. In those cases, he was said to have been wearing a leather-like jacket and an Oakland Raiders beanie-style cap. In the two prior robberies, the man also wore dark black sunglasses, black leather jacket and gloves.

Schlehuber said police will review video surveillance to determine if the same man was involved in the latest holdup.

While some are dubbing the suspect in the local robberies the Beanie Bandit, he’s not the only California robber to get that nickname.

A similar beanie-wearing holdup man was arrested in October in connection with a string of South Bay bank robberies, and another beanie bandit was sentenced in November to 321 years to life on Tuesday for a string of robberies in Ontario, Fontana, Redlands and Montclair, Calif.

Coincidentally, both men were similar in age and physical description to the local strong-arm robber.

Anyone with information about any of the Pleasanton robberies is asked to call the Pleasanton Police Department at 931-5100.