Moraga Police Investigating Shopping Center Armed Robbery

Moraga police, supported by officers from Orinda and Lafayette, searched the Rheem Valley shopping center Tuesday evening for an armed robber who held up a man at knifepoint near the Burger King restaurant.

In a release issued Wednesday, Chief Robert Priebe wrote that the incident occurred at 6:50 p.m. at the Rheem Valley Shopping Center when a 25-year-old man was approached by a knife-wielding man who demanded the victim's money as the victim exited his car.

Priebe said the victim surrendered his money and the suspect, identified as a black male, 25 to 35-years-old, 5'9" tall and approximately 160 pounds, ran off in the direction of Moraga Road.

A swift police response -- within a minute of the occurrence according to Priebe and including officers from neighboring jurisdictions -- was not able to locate the suspect. The victim was not injured, police said.

Priebe said the robber was clean shaven with short hair, wearing a light colored t-shirt, black or dark hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. Anyone at the center who may have witnessed the robbery is asked to call Detective Will Davis at 925 888-7057.