Suspect Sought In 7-Eleven Robbery, Safeway Theft: Petaluma PD

PETALUMA, CA — Police are searching for a man suspected of stealing money Wednesday night from a cashier at Safeway, then robbing a 7-Eleven around 45 minutes later.

The grocery store theft was reported just before 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Safeway on South McDowell Boulevard, the Petaluma Police Department said in a news release.

Witnesses said the suspect, described as a black man in his 30s wearing all black clothing, asked a cashier for change and when the cashier was momentarily distracted, he grabbed cash from the register and left the store, according to police.

Witnesses did not see which way the man went.

Around 8:15 p.m., a robbery was reported at the 7-Eleven at Lakeville Highway and Marina Avenue. Witnesses told police the suspect went behind the front counter of the convenience store and forcefully pushed the clerk out of the way, then took cash from the register.

Surveillance footage showed the suspect leaving the 7-Eleven in a dark blue, newer model Chevrolet Cruze sedan, police said.

Officers compared video surveillance from the two incidents and believe the same suspect was responsible.

The amount of cash taken was undetermined as of Thursday morning but police shared an image of the suspect's car.

Police asked anyone with information in either incident to call Petaluma police Officer Chanin-Meiers at 707-778-4372.