Police Investigating Tuesday Morning Robbery at Valero Gas Station

Rohnert Park police are searching for a man who robbed the Valero gas station, located at 175 Southwest Blvd., around 10 a.m. Tuesday, said Lt. Jeff Taylor.

The man, who police described as an adult male, approximately 30 years old with a thin build, six feet tall, with no facial hair, escaped on foot. Taylor said he wore what appeared to be a brown hoodie, a denim jacket and he used the hood of his jacket to conceal his face when he held up the gas station. He ran to the rear of the gas station, Taylor said.

"He covered his face and brandished a knife, and asked the clerk for money," Taylor said. "He got away with $288."

Police immediately set up a perimiter around the gas station, enlisting the help of Cotati's K9 police. Authorities are still searching for the suspect, Taylor said. Following the robbery, police collected evidence at the crime scene, and are currently processing it.

He said the Department of Public Safety is also reviewing surveillance video from the service mart, and asking local buisnesses who have security cameras to help.

"We're going through it to see what we got on video," Taylor said. "We did stop one guy, but it turned out not to be an exact match."

Police in Rohnert Park are cracking down on robberies — in particular targeting banks — and authorities say it's been working. Take last year for example.

"We had five bank robberies in 2010, so our goal (in 2011) was to target those crimes by increasing police presence, and in 2011 we had zero," said Police Chief Brian Masterson said.

Masterson thanked the community. He said despite having a reduced force, who work 12 hour shifts now — a result of union negotiations last year that resulted in more employee concessions, the public is stepping up to report crimes in their neighborhoods.

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