Knife-Wielding Man Menaces Clerk, Robs Pharmacy In San Mateo

SAN MATEO (CBS SF) -- San Mateo police are looking for a suspect in an armed robbery that occurred Tuesday at a drug store, police said Wednesday.

Officers responded at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday to reports of a robbery in the pharmacy of drug store in the 4000 block of South El Camino Real in San Mateo.

Police said they found that a man entered the store and vaulted over the pharmacy's counter, threatening a pharmacist with a knife and grabbing her.

The man, still holding the pharmacist around the shoulders and brandishing a knife near her neck, walked her to the back of the pharmacy and demanded medication from another employee, police said.

When the second employee complied, police said the suspect let go of the victim and made his escape with the items.

Neither staff member suffered any injuries.

Police describe the suspect as a 5-foot-6-inch white man in his 20's. He is of average build, with an untrimmed beard and a reddish, possibly triangle-shaped tattoo near the corner of his right eye. He was wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt.

Police encourage anyone with information that may help in the investigation to contact Detective Dave Manion at (650) 522-7654 or call the department's anonymous line at (650) 522-7676.