The robbery was reported around 1:30 a.m. in the 2600 block of Lombard Street. The man entered the gas station and threatened an employee with the tire iron, according to police.
The suspect, believed to be in his mid-40s, then cut the wires to the cash register and fled with it, heading south on Broderick Street in a four-door sedan. He had not been found as of this morning, police said.
The employee was not injured in the robbery.
Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call the Police Department's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or send a tip by text message to TIP411.
