Armed Robber Meets Surprise Resistance at California Gaming Store

In a brazen act of defiance against a series of burglaries, employees of a specialty store in Colton, California, took matters into their own hands. An alleged thief had the tables turned on him when he was wrestled to the ground by the store’s workers.

The suspect, however, was armed and managed to escape after brandishing his weapon at the courageous employees. The incident transpired around 8:00 p.m. at the “Into the Retroverse” store.

According to the employees, the man entered the store donned a mask and surgical gloves, and began to stuff his bag with Pokémon cards of considerable value. As one worker, Arturo Garcia, recounted to KTLA-TV, “He just started taking stuff, he said, ‘I need the money, I need the money,’ and that’s when my friend Alex attacked him.”

As the theft unfolded, the employees sprang into action, first by pushing a display case at the thief and then engaging in a physical struggle. Alexander Sanchez Bernal, another employee, said, “I tried to throw him to the ground, that’s when he got tired and pulled out the gun.”

The robber, weapon in hand, proceeded to seize other items before fleeing the scene. Bernal shared the chilling words the suspect left him with, “he should have shot him as he left.” Despite the dangerous situation, Bernal admitted his fear was not for himself, but for his friends and the potential consequences.

The store owner, Jovanne Bernal, brother to Alexander, released the video footage of the incident to KTLA-TV, in the hope that someone might recognize the suspect and assist the police in apprehending him. The store has only been operational for seven months, but this alarming incident marks the third robbery of the game shop.

Bernal expressed his frustration to KTLA, saying, “It sucks. You spend your life trying to build it and then somebody just walks in and says I’m going to take it and because of how things are, they can.”

His complaints to the management of the center about the recurring burglaries have only been met with the assurance that they are “working” on enhancing security measures.

“Three times I’ve been broken into in the past six or seven months and they are still working on it,” Bernal lamented. The management at Colton City Plaza, where the store is located, has yet to offer any comments on the situation.

Colton, a city with a population of approximately 54,000, is situated about 60 miles east of Los Angeles.

Watch the harrowing incident below:

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