Attempted carjacking turns into armed robbery at Pleasanton mall parking lot

PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Pleasanton police are looking for two men in connection with an attempted carjacking that turned into an armed robbery at a mall on Saturday afternoon, a police lieutenant said.

Officers responded to a report of an armed robbery in the parking lot of the Stoneridge Shopping Center shortly before 1:30 p.m., Pleasanton police Lt. Brian Laurence said.

The victim and his two young children were inside his car parked at a lot near a Sears department store where two men approached them, Laurence said.

One of the suspects stood outside the driver's door, displayed what appeared to be a shotgun and demanded the victim for the vehicle, according to Laurence.

The other suspect stood at the rear of the vehicle, he said.

When the victim said he had two young children in the car, the first suspect instead asked for personal property, the lieutenant said.

The victim complied with the demand and both suspects then fled in a waiting car that was last seen on Stoneridge Mall Road, police said.

No injuries were reported.

Arriving officers and mall security personnel searched the area for the suspects without success, Laurence said.

The first suspect is described as a Pacific Islander man in his mid-20s and standing about 5 feet 10 inches tall with a slim build. He was last seen wearing a black trench coat, according to police.

The second suspect is described as a black man in his mid-20s and about 5 feet 10 inches tall with a slim build. He was wearing a light-colored jacket at the time of the crime, police said.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Pleasanton police at (925) 931-5100.