Robbers steal phones, wallets at UC Berkeley

University of California at Berkeley police are looking for a man who stole cellphones and wallets from people at the Recreational Sports Facility on campus Wednesday and then threatened an employee at the facility who confronted him.

The case was reported at 6:03 p.m. Wednesday as a robbery via threats of a gun at the building at 2301 Bancroft Way, police said.

The suspect, described as a middle-aged black man wearing a navy cap with a red brim, a blue plaid flannel shirt over a white T-shirt, white tennis shoes and possibly dark jeans, prowled the facility and stole the various items, according to police.

When the female employee confronted him, the suspect said he had a gun. Fearing for her safety, she let him leave the building and flee west on Bancroft Way. Officers responded and searched the area but did not find him, police said.

Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call the UC police criminal investigation bureau at (510) 642-0472 during business hours or (510) 642-6760 during all other times.