Beach Side Station Robbed at Gunpoint

Sheriff's deputies spent Thursday morning searching today for two men who tied up an employee and left him in a back office while robbing the gas station at gunpoint, authorities said.

The armed robbery at the Beach Side Station in the intersection where Palm Avenue and state Route 75 split, was reported about 10:50 p.m. Tuesday, said San Diego County sheriff's Sgt. Michael Blevins.

The robbers wore bandanas over their faces and hoodies and baseball caps on their heads, Blevins said, adding that one had a black handgun.

After taking money from the cash register, robbers forced a lone employee into a back office to open a safe, according to the sergeant, who said the employee complied and was then tied up.

The robbers fled on foot southbound on Seventh Street with money from
the cash register and the safe, Blevins said. The exact loss was not disclosed.

The bound employee was freed a few minutes later by someone who came into the business, the sergeant said.

Authorities described the robbers as two black men thought to be in their 20s, both between 5 feet 7 and 5 feet 8 and weighing between 160 and 170 pounds.

City News Service contributed to this report.