Suspect Arrested After Takeover Armed Robbery at McDonald's

A man has been arresed for allegedly robbing employees at McDonald's restaurants in San Mateo and Pleasanton at gunpoint.

Felix Gonzalez-Becerra, a 42-year-old Oakland resident, faces charges in San Mateo and Alameda counties in connection with the armed robberies in August and September, San Mateo Police Sgt. Dave Norris said Tuesday.

Officers responded around 10:30 p.m. Sept. 2 to reports of an armed robbery at the McDonald's located in the Laurelwood Shopping Center at 1234 W. Hillsdale Blvd.

Officers discovered that a suspect described as a Hispanic man driving a dark colored Chrysler PT Cruiser had robbed the store takeover-style at gunpoint.

The suspect forced employees into a freezer and forced one employee to open the safe at gunpoint.

No one was injured, and the suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Officers sent out suspect information based on witness accounts, and shared this information with surrounding agencies.

A SanMateo officer then spotted the suspect vehicle as it headed toward the San Mateo Bridge.

Based on witness statements that the suspect had a handgun, SMPD followed the vehicle and gathered additional support for a high risk traffic stop.

The vehicle was stopped on Interstate High 880 in San Leandro.

The driver, identified as Gonzalez-Becerra, was detained and arrested. SMPD seized the stolen cash, the clothing worn by the suspect -- a backpack and hoodie -- and a replica handgun.

Gonzalez-Becerra was booked into San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of armed robbery.

After sharing information about the armed robbery with other local law enforcement agencies, it was determined Gonzalez-Becerra was responsible for an armed robbey at a McDonald's in Pleasanton on Aug. 28, according to Norris.

At about 3 a.m. Aug. 28, a suspect robbed the Pimlico McDonald’s in Pleasanton in a similar fashion to the San Mateo robbery.

This suspect also demanded money from the safe at gunpoint, and ushered employees into the freezer. An undisclosed amount of cash was taken, and there were no injuries involved in this incident.

Based on the information and similarities from the San Mateo case, the fact that Gonzalez-Becerra has an employment connection to the Pimlico McDonald’s in Pleasanton, and other investigative information, Gonzalez-Becerra has also been identified as the suspect in the Pimlico McDonald’s robbery, police said.

Becerra is being held at the San Mateo County Jail and criminal charges will be sought through the Alameda County District Attorney’s office against Becerra for allegedly committing the robbery in Pleasanton.

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· Call us on 911 for emergencies and crimes-in-progress.

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· Anyone with information on current investigations or ongoing crime trends is encouraged to contact your local Police Department:

San Mateo Police Department -

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Dispatch: 925-931-5100