Three Men Rob Santa Maria Gas Station

An early-morning robbery has the city of Santa Maria on edge once again.

Mobil gas station on East Main Street was hit by three thieves Wednesday just after 3 a.m.

Chris Cosa was inside the gas station when it happened. Hetold KEYT/KCOY/KKFX’S Cory James one of the men was holding a knife and the other had a gun that police said was fake.

Cosa said robbers “were demanding cash… they wanted the hundreds.”

Police said Javier Barrientos Jr. is one of the men who held up the clerk, who had only been on the job for two weeks.

The other two are juveniles whose identities can not be released because of their age.

Investigators said the suspects got away with an undisclosed amount of money and cigars.

Shortly after the robbery, police spotted a suspicious vehicle leaving the area and were able to catch the suspects less than five minutes after they left.

Lee Mendez manages the gas station. He said the robbery was the first in 10 years for his store.

Mendez said the string of holdups that happened almost two months encouraged him to remind his employees to “give them the money … do what they say,” if they are robbed.

Yvette Andrade is a frequent customer and says she appreciates the good service and employees that work here.

Andrade added that “the owner used to have plastic plexiglass around where the [employees] work.” She is hoping that he will put it back up to protect them.

Barrientos was taken to Santa Barbara County Jail with bail set at $100,000.