Two San Leandro men, just 18 and 19, are now facing serious charges after what police describe as a masked, gunpoint robbery and botched carjacking of a food delivery driver on Feb. 13.
According to investigators, the driver said he was trailed from a restaurant in Hayward before the suspects closed in on him on the 14700 block of Pepperdine Street in San Leandro. Wearing masks and allegedly armed with guns, the pair reportedly confronted him, took his cellphone, and tried to make off with his car. The escape plan fell apart when one suspect, sitting in the driver’s seat, could not shift the vehicle because the delivery worker still had the key fob.
San Leandro police arrested the 18-year-old suspect at his workplace on Feb. 24. Detectives then picked up the 19-year-old in Castro Valley last Thursday. Investigators say license-plate reader data and forensic work on a suspect’s cellphone helped them zero in on the pair. A search warrant reportedly turned up a ski mask and clothing that authorities allege match what was worn during the robbery, along with a Glock handgun that investigators say is consistent with the weapon used in the hold-up. One suspect has already admitted involvement in the case, according to The Mercury News.
Charges And The Court Process
Court filings show both men have been booked on robbery-related counts as the case winds its way through the Alameda County system. Prosecutors have the option to pursue second-degree robbery, attempted carjacking, and weapons enhancements depending on how formal charges shake out.
Key dates, upcoming hearings, and case documents are listed in the public portal for Alameda County Superior Court, where the case is currently being processed.
Bail, Admissions And What's Next
According to court records, the 19-year-old has been charged with second-degree robbery and attempted carjacking and is being held in lieu of $160,000 bail. The 18-year-old faces similar second-degree robbery and attempted carjacking counts, along with multiple firearm charges, and is out on $115,000 bail.
One defendant has admitted involvement, according to court filings and news reporting. Both men are scheduled to appear in Alameda County Superior Court for arraignment as prosecutors continue reviewing the case, per The Mercury News.
How Detectives Say They Built The Case
Investigators say the case came together through a mix of technology and old-fashioned police work. Automated license-plate reader hits helped track vehicles of interest, while cellphone forensics and evidence seized through a search warrant were used to connect the dots back to the two suspects. Arrests then took place at a San Leandro workplace and later in Castro Valley.
San Leandro police are asking anyone who may have information or security footage from the area around the time of the Feb. 13 robbery to reach out to detectives, according to the San Leandro Police Department.
