DANVILLE — Four Solano County boys — three 16-years-old and one 17 — who tried unsuccessfully to rob pharmacies here and in Dublin of narcotics, have been arrested on suspicion of numerous charges, including looting, authorities said.
Authorities said under state law, the looting charge can be applied when a person enters a building to commit any theft during a state of emergency, which is what numerous counties, including Contra Costa and Alameda, are under because of the coronvirus pandemic.
Danville police Lt. Jason Ingrassia said two of the suspects entered the CVS store at 650 San Ramon Boulevard about 4:53 p.m. Friday, simulated a gun to pharmacy employees and demanded access to the narcotics safe. The suspects fled when the employees said they did not have access to the safe.
Dublin police Capt. Nate Schmidt said about two hours earlier two of the suspects jumped over a counter at a pharmacy inside the Target Store, 7200 Amador Plaza Rd., and demanded an employee open the narcotics safe. The employee could not get the safe open and the suspects fled when store security began approaching.
Dublin police were able to get a description of the BMW the suspects fled in from video cameras in the area and it was made available to other law enforcement agencies.
A Contra Costa County sheriff’s deputy saw the vehicle gong northbound on Interstate 680 near Treat Boulevard shortly after the Danville incident and initiated a traffic stop. The four suspects were inside the vehicle.
Two of the occupants were identified as the Danville suspects and two as the Dublin suspects, authorities said..
All four were booked at Contra Costa Juvenile Hall on looting, suspicion of robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. Two of the 16-year-olds are from Vallejo, one is from Fairfield and the 17-year-old is from Benicia, authorities said.
Danville Chief of Police Allan Shields said he was pleased they were able to locate and detain the suspects quickly, and praised the efforts of his officers along with Dublin officers and Contra Costa County deputies.
“This was an excellent example of how police work together to keep the community safe by capturing criminals,” Shields said. “During this ongoing crisis our officers are busy, but rest assured we will continue to aggressively arrest and seek prosecution for those wishing to do harm in our town.”
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