San Francisco

CHP Searches For 2 Armed Suspects in Bridge Toll Booth Robberies

The California Highway Patrol is asking for the public's help in its search for two armed suspects who robbed toll booths at two Bay Area bridges Sunday, getting away with thousands of dollars.

At about 4 a.m., a booth at the Carquinez Bridge Toll Plaza was robbed by two African-American men wearing blue or purple latex gloves while traveling in a black Mercedes S550 sedan with paper plates, the CHP said.

At about 2 p.m., suspects matching the same description and traveling in a vehicle matching the same description robbed a toll booth at the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, the CHP said.

The CHP Golden Gate Division posted surveillance images of the suspects and the suspect vehicle on its Facebook page late Sunday. The suspects got away with more than $4,000, officials said.

Some toll booth operators were worried that they could be the next victim, and stunned drivers also are concerned for the toll workers.

"It's pretty scary," motorist Derek Trammel said. "They got nowhere to go; they're stuck in their booth."

There have been four toll plaza robberies so far this year, with no arrests, and there were five total in 2016, with one suspect arrested on an unrelated violation, the CHP said.

In 2015, there were 14 toll plaza robberies reported, and the CHP arrested one suspect they believe is responsible for 11 of those robberies.

Anyone who witnessed the incidents or has information about the suspects is asked to contact the CHP Golden Gate Division at 707-551-4100.

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