Update: Aliberto’s Robbery May be Linked to San Diego Holdup Spree

Updated at 10:25 a.m. Monday

Monday morning’s robbery of an El Cajon Boulevard taco shop is being investigated as part of a series of San Diego holdups tied to a criminal gang, La Mesa police say.

“We are also looking into if they are related to others committed in La Mesa,” said police Capt. Carlos Medero.

Two men robbed Aliberto’s Mexican Food at 7819 El Cajon Blvd. just after midnight Sunday, with one wearing a Halloween mask and wielding a stun gun, authorities said. It was the sixth armed robbery in La Mesa in the past two weeks.

La Mesa police said the pair fled southbound on foot after taking money from the cash register drawer.  No employee was hurt.

Medero said surveillance video from two recent Spring Street ARCO station robberies involving the same suspects was released to the San Diego Police Department, which used it in a press release. 

“SDPD has several robberies including the same suspects,” he said.

In response to an email query, Medero also said: “Our robbery detective is working with other robbery detectives in the county on possible leads in this series.  When leads become available that will not compromise any investigation(s), we may release [arrest] information.”
 
Regarding the latest robbery: About 12:10 a.m., the La Mesa Police Department received a report of a robbery having just occurred at the Aliberto’s taco shop., said a news release.

“An employee reported that one suspect approached the counter of the business and ordered a burrito,” police said.

A short time later a second robber entered the business.  One pulled out a stun gun and ordered the employee to the back of the business, police said.

The robbers then got behind the counter and took the cash drawer out of the register, police said.

The robbers were described thusly:

Suspect #1:  Black male, mid 20s, 5 foot 8 to 6-0, 160-180 pounds, wearing a maroon SDSU hooded sweatshirt and khaki pants.  

Suspect #2: Black male, mid 20s, 5-10 to 6-1, 185-205 pounds, wearing a grey and blue hooded sweatshirt and dark blue jeans.  He concealed his face with a grey Halloween type mask with large teeth on it.

Anyone with information on the latest case is asked to call the La Mesa Police Department at 619-667-1400.

You may also call Crime Stoppers’ anonymous toll-free tip line (888) 580-TIPS (sdcrimestoppers.com). You can remain anonymous, and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case.