Armed Man Wearing Curly-Haired Wig Tries to Rob Palo Alto Gas Station

Police in Palo Alto are searching for a man wearing a curly wig who attempted to rob a gas station at gunpoint on Saturday night.

At around 6:50 p.m., officers responded to an attempted armed robbery at a 76 gas station at 835 San Antonio Road, according to Palo Alto police.

A cashier said that a suspect in his 30s or 40s entered the gas station store and approached the counter to buy some cigarettes, police said.

During the transaction, the would-be robber partially removed a black semiautomatic handgun from his waistband and demanded money.

The cashier immediately closed the cash drawer and refused to comply, police said.

The suspect left the business and was last seen fleeing north on East Charleston Road.

No one was injured.

Responding officers searched the area with a K-9 police dog but were unable to track the suspect down.

He was described as a black man with a skinny build, standing around 5 feet 5 inches tall. He was clean-shaven and appeared to be wearing a wig with shoulder-length curly hair.

He was last seen wearing a black hat with white lettering, a black parka and faded dark pants.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Palo Alto police dispatch at (650) 329-2413.

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