Robber snags cash from Rite Aid

BY ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

Santa Barbara police combed the area near Milpas Street and Highway 101 yesterday afternoon after a middle-aged man made off with a handful of cash from Rite Aid.
Authorities said a man with tattoos on his arms and neck entered the store at 35 S. Milpas St. at 4:25 p.m. and demanded cash from the registers.

“He feigned to have a gun to the clerk,” Lt. David Whitham said. “A gun was never seen.”
After the clerk said he couldn’t give up any cash, the man reached toward his back waistband and the employee opened the register, police said. The man immediately grabbed cash and fled out the front door.
“We saturated the area,” Lt. Whitham said. “We had one person detained and had the clerk come over, but it wasn’t him.”
He said it’s unclear at the moment how much money the suspect made off with. Authorities remained on scene, combing over the store and taking photos, but business had returned to usual by 5 p.m.