Employees at a Santa Monica Starbucks Coffee got a startling wake up call when two men robbed them early Wednesday.
Employees at the Starbucks on the corner of 26th Street and Wilshire Boulevard were preparing to open the coffee shop at about 5:15 a.m. when two men forced their way into the back of the store and demanded money.
“An employee was arriving to work and was confronted by the suspect at the rear door,” said Santa Monica Police Department Lt. Frank Fabrega.
The robbers, who are described as black men, between 25 and 30 years old, took off with an undisclosed amount of cash and several espresso machines. It is unknown if the suspects left on foot or in a car.
At 5:21 a.m., SMPD officers responded to an employee’s 911 call reporting that an armed robbery had just occurred.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 14, 2002. Read the original PDF.