Hammer-Wielding Robber Steals $300 Bottle of Brandy From Pasadena Grocery Store

Ralphs grocery store, 3601 E. Foothill Blvd. in Pasadena, as pictured in a Google Street View image.

A man on Sunday stole a $300 bottle of brandy from a Pasadena grocery store, then threatened two female employees with a hammer when they confronted him, police said.

The crime took place at about 6 p.m. at Ralphs, 3601 E. Foothill Blvd., said Pasadena police Lt. Sean Dawkins.

A man entered the store and asked the clerk for the expensive bottle of booze, which was locked up in a case, the lieutenant said.

An employee retrieved the bottle and placed it with a cashier, he said.

The man grabbed the bottle and left the store without paying, Dawkins said.

When two women who worked at the store confronted him about the theft, he brandished a hammer and threatened them, he said. The robber was last seen riding west along Foothill Boulevard on a bicycle. No injuries were reported.

Police described him as a Black man between 40 and 50 years old, about six feet tall, wearing a black hat, a black mask, a black sweater, and gray sweatpants. He also wore a backpack and had a hammer with a blue handle.

Anyone with information can reach the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4501. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.