Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: Del Taco 591 N. Ventu Park Rd. Newbury Park / Shell Gas Station 56 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks.

Clerks at two local businesses were surprised early this morning when a man reached out and grabbed money from the cash drawers at both locations while pretending to buy food. The first incident occurred at Del Taco in Newbury Park. The suspect entered the drive through and ordered a soft drink. When he got to the clerk’s window, the suspect demanded money. As the clerk stepped away from the window, the suspect reached inside and took cash from the open cash register drawer. The suspect did not display a weapon, and he drove away after taking the money.

Approximately ten minutes later, apparently the same suspect entered the Shell gas station on Thousand Oaks Boulevard. He selected several food items and put them on the counter. When the clerk opened the cash drawer, the suspect immediately reached across the counter and grabbed cash from the open register.

The suspect was last seen running eastbound on Thousand Oaks Boulevard. The suspect is described as a white male approximately 6’0” to 6’1” weighing between 200-220 lbs. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, dark colored pants, and had a distinctive mark on his nose.

Investigators are in the process of getting surveillance footage from the two businesses. During the Del Taco robbery, the suspect was seen driving a gray or silver American-made sedan. A similar vehicle was seen driving away from the gas station at a high rate of speed shortly after that robbery.

Anyone with information about these two robberies is asked to contact Detective Javier Chavez at (805)494-8223.