Very progressive of the K-9 officers to not be able to distinguish this man's race. It should not be relevant it's his soul that matters to the law. For our own safety Palo Alto citizens should be asking: if we can't even catch criminals who are 5'7", are any of us safe from real danger? I will be writing a letter..

Meg

Can the PAO report on the status of the last 3 times this store was robbed?
Are they finding and charging these people or is it just an ATM for criminals
to hit when they need cash?

What about the robbery of the Safeway store a while back?

It seems really irresponsible for 7-11 to just do business as usual in this store
when it is regularly robbed. What it is going to take an assault and battery on
the clerks or a witness to motivate some action.

Why are the videos still so blurry, and where is there no video at the door,
in the parking lot?

Crime is becoming a regular occurrence in Palo Alto these days. Street muggings, store robberies (and window smashing thefts), car break-ins + an occasional discharge of a firearm appear to be the new norm. Add some sexual assault reportages to the list and you've got the picture.

The perpetrators come from miles away to hit Palo Alto and word must be out on the streets that Palo Alto = 'easy pickins'.

Personal vigilance and caution in PA is even more requisite now as the PAPD cannot be monitoring every square inch of the city as a crime prevention measure.

In regards to the earlier thread/discussion on rehabilitation VS incarceration...

Packing heat to commit any crime IMO is most certainly grounds for extended incarceration & any rehabilitation is secondary. Inherently violent individuals and sexual offenders cannot be successfully rehabbed in many cases because it is their natural predisposition.

A leopard cannot change its spots.

They should stop accepting cash.

Other than the desire for a cherry/coke Slurpee, there is no reason for anyone ever to go into the midtown or downtown 7-11. Need to shut these down. Dirty and dangerous.

Crooks wearing bananas?

The 'hoodie' description is so ubiquitous these days that chances are, only a few suspects will ever get caught.

@WTH? I have the same questions about the Apple Store downtown.
I didn't think 7-Eleven kept enough nighttime cash to be a worthwhile target.
Life in prison for $100? What are the local 24-hour gas stations doing right?
Palo Alto has insufficient publicity for number of thieves caught and sent to jail.
Must be politically incorrect as a crime deterrent. Or embarrassingly small.

In the old days, people robbed liquor stores and stole cars.

Today things have changed. Modern times.

These more frequent armed robberies are ultimately going to result in some deaths of store personnel and/or customers. Yet our police force is sitting with 13 vacancies and the just announced 2020 budget supports leaving several positions unfilled to save $$. Maybe we need to step up and take the financial hit to fill out a more robust police presence to help deter some of these lowlifes.

Also, why not require all retail locations to install decent video surveillance equipment? The 7-Eleven system is obviously a cheapo providing no help in identifying anybody committing a robbery, much less something more heinous.

"Maybe we need to step up and take the financial hit to fill out a more robust police presence to help deter some of these lowlifes."

Could the PAPD Reserve units be used for additional patrol and crime prevention?

About the only time I see them is when they are directing traffic at Stanford football games.

^ Yeah, with a sharper image of the black-hooded sweatshirt, black pants, red shoes, purple gloves and a red bandana anybody could identify this guy. Not.

"Crooks wearing bananas?"

Awww.... You've been around since the 70's, haven't you? Shoulda been:

Cooks wearing bananas?

On the one hand, the robber quite intelligently thought to conceal his identity. On the other hand, he robbed a store in a chain that is known never to keep more than $50 or $100 on hand. Excess cash gets dropped into a slot in a safe that the clerks can't open. So he will have to keep robbing stores to make any real money and will eventually get caught.

Then when he goes to prison he will have the other prisoners mocking him for being so stupid as to risk a robbery conviction for a $50 "score."

>> the robber quite intelligently thought to conceal his identity. On the other hand, he robbed a store in a chain that is known never to keep more than $50 or $100 on hand.
>> Then when he goes to prison he will have the other prisoners mocking him for being so stupid as to risk a robbery conviction for a $50 "score.

Petty thieves are not known for having a high IQ. That is why they get caught.

After serving their time, most become repeat offenders.

"other prisoners mocking him for being so stupid as to risk a robbery conviction for a $50 "score."

Where would you go for a bigger "score"? Keep in mind fencing discounts, etc..

"most become repeat offenders"

Sounds like you've seen the numbers - care to share?

> Petty thieves are not known for having a high IQ. That is why they get caught.

White collar thieves also get caught from time to time but most have a far higher IQ than someone holding up a 7-11 for $50 with a handgun.

White collar crime usually involves mega-millions and non-violent in nature which is why the sentences are far shorter & if one is lucky, they get to go to a minimum security federal prison...some with golf courses & gourmet dining.

Use a gun and rob a convenience store for $50-$100 = 15-20 years in a state prison.
Stupid is as stupid does goes the old adage.

"After serving their time, most become repeat offenders."

Most are repeat offenders before they serve any time.

> Most are repeat offenders before they serve any time.

Good point as many are seasoned veterans of the trade.

They just haven't been caught yet.

For starters, seems 7-11 is too lax and they need to buy a decent camera...................and get one of those "help, I've fallen and can't get up" attachments for the employeeS to wear.