3 Men From El Cerrito Armed Robbery Spotted in Kensington, Witness Says

An El Cerrito man who was recently robbed by three men with guns reported that he spotted the same three trying to break into a Kensington home Tuesday morning, according to Kensington police.

The man was driving on the "unit block" of Franciscan Way Tuesday morning about 9:30 a.m. when he recognized a man in parked car as the same person who had robbed him, police said. Another man knocked on the front door of a nearby home, while a third man was believed to going to the rear of the home, according to a police alert by Kensington Detective Eric Stegman issued Tuesday night. 

"When it was determined that no one was home in the residence, suspects #2 and #3 attempted to force entry through a rear glass door," Stegman said. "Meanwhile the motorist (witness) turned around but the suspects had returned to their car and fled south on Franciscan Way."

"The witness in this case is certain these are the same individuals who robbed him at gunpoint," he said.

Three men outside his home in the 1300 block of Contra Costa Drive on May 25, according to El Cerrito police. The robbery occurred after the resident started photographing the men, who had parked in his neighbor's driveway and were acting suspicously, police said.

The description of the three men in the robbery was similar to the three men seen at the Kensington home Tuesday.

The men in the robbery were all described as Hispanic males in their 20s. One was about 5-feet 8-inches tall, weighing about 170 pounds, with short brown hair combed back. Another was about 5-feet 10-inches, about 160 pounds, with curly black hair. And the third was about 5-feet 9-inches, about 180 pounds, with short brown hair.

The three men seen in Kensington Tuesday were described as Hispanic adult males: one with short hair dressed in a blue jumpsuit or coveralls, one with longer hair in white jumpsuit or coveralls, similar to that of a painter, and one dressed a brown jumpsuit or coveralls, according to Stegman. 

The vehicle in the Kensington incident was described as a light colored – blue, green, or grey – four-door, newer model, American-make sedan. It had a red temporary registration tag in the rear window, which may have read “6,” Stegman said.

The car in the El Cerrito robbery was described mid-2000s, possibly a gray four-door Ford Taurus.

"It is also possible these individuals are using several different cars in order avoid being identified," said the statement from Stegman.

"Please contact KPD (Kensington Police Department) ASAP with any information or if you see suspicious activity you believe to be related to this case," Stegman said. "DO NOT attempt to contact or detain these individuals as it is confirmed they are armed."

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