APTOS — Two men remain at large following a string of robberies Wednesday evening in Santa Cruz and Aptos.
Police from multiple agencies have been trying to connect a string of robberies in San Francisco, Berkeley, Marina, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County and Monterey.
On Wednesday at about 6:45 p.m., officers responded to a robbery at Starbucks on 41st Avenue in Capitola. A “be on the lookout” was sent to multiple agencies about the suspect vehicle, a silver Toyota Prius with two black male adults aboard, said California Highway Patrol officer Trista Drake.
About 10 minutes after that BOL was broadcasted the suspects reportedly robbed another Starbucks at Ocean and Water streets in Santa Cruz. The CHP again issued a BOL for the vehicle.
That’s when Scotts Valley Police noticed the Prius and gave a brief pursuit but they discontinued their efforts.
Next, a CHP officer spotted the Prius on southbound Highway 1 in Aptos around 7:25 p.m. Drake said the vehicle was speeding in excess of 100 mph and passing on the shoulder. Officers pursued the Prius on southbound Highway 1. The Prius exited State Park Drive, Drake said, and collided with a power pole. Both suspects took off on foot and are still outstanding.
Police believe it’s likely that the same suspects are wanted in multiple robberies, Drake said.
One pattern that is emerging is that the suspects are robbing patrons of coffee shops of their laptop computers and other electronics.
Drake said police recovered five laptops and other electronics from the Prius that crashed at State Park Wednesday night.
Drake said the incident is still under investigation and that multiple law agencies are still putting their heads together in hopes of building a comprehensive case.
