San Diego

A bookkeeper for an East San Diego homeless shelter was robbed Monday just as he was getting ready to drive to a bank to make a cash deposit, police said.

Maximo Mata was next to his car in front of the Christ Missionary Organization in the 5000 block of Auburn Drive when three men pushed him to the ground, threatened him and forced him to open the trunk of the car, where the money was stored, said Police Department spokesman Bill Robinson.

They stole $2,350 from the trunk and $300 from Mata’s wallet.

Mata fired a shot from his .22-caliber pistol but did not hit any of the men, Robinson said.

The men were wearing stocking masks and are believed to be 14 to 20 years old, Robinson said. One was wearing a black trench coat, black jeans, black gloves and white tennis shoes.

After taking the money, the robbers drove away in Mata’s 1988 Toyota Camry, Robinson said. The car was abandoned in the 8300 block of Winona Avenue, and police believe the men then got into a late-model Datsun 280Z.

Thomas Bower, a shelter resident, said residents collect funds to run the shelter through door-to-door, telephone and street solicitations throughout the San Diego area. The shelter also helps residents find odd jobs and teaches them how to fill out job applications, Bower said.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 235-TIPS.