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Men beat, rob ice cream vendors

·  PITTSBURG: Ten bars, money and other items are snatched in two cases police are investigating

By Cassandra Braun

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Article Launched: 06/23/2007 03:05:38 AM PDT

Criminals in East Contra Costa County have apparently found new victims to terrorize -- ice cream vendors.

Police are looking for a group of men who beat and robbed two pushcart ice cream vendors Thursday.

The first incident occurred about 2:30 p.m. in the 2200 block of Dover Way, Pittsburg police Lt. Brian Addington said.

An ice cream vendor was pushing his cart when a dark-colored car pulled up and four men got out, while a female driver stayed in the vehicle. The men walked up to the man, punched him in the nose and pushed him to the ground. They then grabbed 10 ice cream bars and sped away in the sedan, Addington said.

Two hours later, a few blocks away on Atherton Avenue, another ice cream vendor was strolling along when two men walked up to him and punched him several times in the face, causing him to fall down. The men continued to kick the street vendor on the ground. They snatched money and other items from the man's pockets and then ran away, Addington said.

The vendor was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries. He gave police a detailed description of the two robbers. Based on that description, both victims later positively identified one of the men responsible for both crimes from a photo lineup, Addington said.

Police did not disclose the suspect's name, but they said he is a 25-year-old Pittsburg man who has a long history with local police.

Detectives are still trying to determine the identities of the other suspects both robberies.