Redwood City Police arrested two men who are suspected of three armed robberies that took place before dawn on Tuesday in Redwood City.
The first robbery took place at the 7-Eleven in the 400 block of Woodside Road at 3:50 a.m., according to Redwood City Police Lieutenant Sean Hart. A man entered the store in a black hoodie and a mask, pointed a rifle at the clerk, and demanded money. The clerk relinquished the cash; the hooded robber ran away from the store north bound toward Hess Road.
The second robbery happened at the Food Stop Store in the 900 block of Whipple Avenue at about 4:30 a.m. The incident was identical to the first, except that in this case, the clerk reported seeing a suspicious white Ford Mustang with a black convertible top. The clerk suspected the robber was associated with it.
At 6:10 a.m., a third robbery took place at the 7-Eleven in the 1700 block of Broadway. Again, the robber entered wearing a black hoodie and a mask, bearing a rifle and an appetite for cash from the register. Again, the clerk did not resist. This time, the clerk told police he saw the robber get into a white car with a black roof.
Later that morning at about 6:30 a.m. Police Sergeant Gil Gomez noticed a white Mustang parked in the 500 block of Lincoln Avenue. The headlights were on; no one was inside the car. Gomez stopped to look into the vehicle and saw a black hoodie inside.
Gomez said he saw Miguel Alvarado, 18, and Osvaido Lopez, 21, walk out of the driveway of a house in the 400 block of Lincoln Avenue. He said that when they saw him, they backtracked. Additional officers were dispatched to the scene.
Shortly thereafter, Alvarado and Lopez were arrested.
Police subsequently obtained a search warrant and rummaged through their both Alvarado and Lopez’ homes. Police say they found the weapon used in the robberies at Alvarado’s residence. They suspect the duo is also responsible for a residential burglary that took place in the 500 block of Katherine Avenue in Redwood City on May 23. Detectives reportedly found items stolen from that home in Alvarado’s residence.
Alvarado and Lopez were booked into San Mateo County Jail and charged with robbery, residential burglary, and being criminal street gang members.
Detective Mark Alifano is asking anyone with information to call him at (650) 780-7677.
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