SANTA ROSA (KRON) — Santa Rosa camera shop employees took action when three suspects walked in, ready to steal expensive equipment in broad daylight.
Two suspects were caught and now Santa Rosa Police are offering a reward to catch the third suspect who got away.
Police say the three people were wearing backpacks, ready to go, not hiding their intentions at all.
Surveillance cameras were rolling when three people walked into the Shutterbug Camera shop on Santa Rosa Avenue on Thursday.
All three of them with hoods on and backpacks open — one of the suspects carrying a nine millimeter pistol.
“One of them got behind the counter and started grabbing stuff,” said Mike Paschke, the owner of Shutterbug.
Then the employees took action, calling 911 and detaining two of the three suspects at the front door, holding them down until police arrived.
“I’m so proud of the stuff, but we are so lucky the gun didn’t go off,” he said.
During the struggle, the store owner was bit by one of the suspects.
Two of the suspects were arrested. the other fled the scene and is still on the loose.
Police say the two are now behind bars are just 14 and 18-years-old and are from Oakland.
“They came out of their way. They knew what they were going to do,” Paschke said.
Employees say they were able to recover all of the items the brazen suspects attempted to steal. the gun was also located.
“I’m hoping this sends the message that they can’t come into stores like this,” the owner said.
The third suspect who got away is described as a teenager, wearing a black sweatshirt.
There’s a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to his arrest.
For live, local news, download the KRONon app. It lets you watch commercial-free the Bay Area’s Local News Station on multiple streaming devices.