Mall Robbery: Teen Pulls Knife, Boy Armed With Gun: Police

SAN MATEO, CA — Teens from East Palo Alto pulled a knife on and physically assaulted security and loss prevention at the Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo after trying to steal clothing and fragrance items from Macy’s, according to police.

Officers responded to the mall shortly after 7:30 p.m. Sunday and arrived to find a security guard chasing a 17-year-old boy through the parking lot and back into the mall, police said, adding officers stopped the boy, who was uncooperative and was carrying a loaded handgun that had been reported stolen in Richmond.

Another teen, 18-year-old Jose Miguel Rodriguez Vasquez, had brandished a knife at loss prevention and security and threatened them when they tried to detain Rodriguez Vasquez and the boy outside the store, according to police, who said the 17-year-old fled the scene. The boy assaulted loss prevention agents while being detained, causing minor injuries, police said, adding Rodriguez Vasquez was arrested and taken to San Mateo County Jail, while the boy went to the county youth services center.

The teens had $1,200 in stolen goods, according to police.

Rodriguez Vasquez was charged with robbery, burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, terrorist threats, conspiracy and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, police said. The boy was also charged with burglary and conspiracy, as well as resisting an officer, carrying a loaded gun in public, possessing a gun as a minor, and receiving stolen property, according to police.