Masked Men Rob Santa Maria Taco Bell
Santa Maria police are looking for two masked men who they say robbed the Taco Bell located on 1807 North Broadway.
According to Taco Bell employees, the two suspects entered the building and demanded money. The two men told workers they had a gun but nothing was every brandished.
Investigators said the suspects stole personal property from one of the employees before leaving.
The victims were not injured during the robbery. The incident is under investigation.
Police urge the public with any information to contact the Santa Maria Police Department at (805) 928-3781, or call Crime Stoppers at (877) 800-9100.
*****UPDATE*****
Santa Maria Police say just after 6:00am Monday morning two men wearing masks made their way into the Taco Bell on North Broadway and demanded money from the startled employees.
Employees told police the suspects came into the restaurant and threatened them with a gun but they never actually saw a weapon during the brief encounter.
Police say the suspects ran off with personal property from one of the employees.
None of the employees were hurt.
The robbery was caught on tape by security cameras inside and outside the restaurant.
Taco Bell management would not comment and Central Coast News was not allowed inside the restaurant.
The early morning holdup surprised Ravi Chahal who’s owned his North Broadway convenience store business for more than ten years.
“We never have any problem at night time”, Chahal says, “I don’t remember when we called the cops the last time.”
In the past ten years the far northern stretch of North Broadway, between Donovan Road and Highway 101 has seen a significant amount of economic activity.
The area has been built up with new shopping centers, restaurants and hotels, a short drive from Highway 101.
Ravi Chahal says far North Broadway has its own identity and sense of community.
“We are just treating everybody like a family because we have been here for a very long time”, Chahal says, “everybody treats us like a family, so all of our customers are just like family too.”
Most of the recent activity along far North Broadway that required police and emergency response has been deadly hit and run accidents involving bicyclists and pedestrians.
