Police are searching for a masked man accused of trying to steal a victim’s wallet at gunpoint on a street in La Mesa.
According to police, the armed robbery attempt happened Friday at around 3:05 p.m. in the 5300 block of Maryland Avenue.
The victim had just parked their car and was approached by an unknown man said to be wearing a hard, plastic mask covering his face.
Police say the masked man pointed a large-caliber, semi-automatic pistol at the victim and demanded their wallet.
The victim didn’t have a wallet, so the suspect ran off eastbound on Maryland Avenue.
The victim was not injured, police said.
As a precaution, nearby Maryland Avenue Elementary School was placed on lockdown for about 30 minutes while officers searched the area.
Officers were not able to immediately locate the suspect, and he remains at large.
Police describe the armed, masked man as 6-feet-tall with a thin build. He was wearing a light grey hoodie with the hood covering his hair, as well as gloves during the attempted robbery.
The investigation in ongoing and anyone with information on this case is urged to call the La Mesa Police Department at (619) 667-1400.
Photo Credit: Getty Images / Scott Olson