Three suspects rob Palo Alto Safeway pharmacy at gunpoint

Police in Palo Alto are searching for three men suspected of robbing a Safeway at gunpoint early Friday and making off with prescription drugs from the store’s pharmacy.

No injuries were reported after the robbery, reported about 12:40 a.m. at the Safeway at 2811 Middlefield Road, in Palo Alto’s Midtown neighborhood, according to police

When the trio entered the store, one brandished a handgun and a staffer was ordered to the ground near the pharmacy, which was closed at the time.

One of the suspects broke the pharmacy’s glass door and stole an unknown amount of prescription drugs, police said. After that, the suspects ran from the store and left in a pickup truck that was last seen headed eastbound on Oregon Expressway.

Although there had been a report of gunfire during the robbery, police said later that the suspects had not discharged a weapon. A witness heard the pharmacy glass door shattering and may have confused that sound with a gunshot, police said.

Video surveillance from the store shows the suspect who brandished the handgun wore a gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and red tennis shoes. The second suspect wore a yellow hooded sweatshirt with a Tommy Hilfiger logo on it, dark pants and black shoes.

The third suspect wore a red hooded jacket, gray pants and white sneakers.

All three suspects were described as Hispanic men in their 20s, with medium builds.

The suspects’ vehicle was described as a full-size red two-door pickup truck. It appeared to be an early 2000 model Ford or Chevrolet.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call police at (650) 329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voicemail to (650) 383-8984. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through a free mobile app, downloadable at bit.ly/PAPD-AppStore or bit.ly/PAPD-GooglePlay.