THOUSAND OAKS : Man Arrested in Shoe Store Robbery
A Westlake Village man was arrested on suspicion of robbing a shoe store in Thousand Oaks, authorities said Friday.
Roberto Soto, 23, was being held Friday at Ventura County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.
A man reportedly walked into Patrini Shoes at 1764 Moorpark Road about 8:45 p.m. Thursday to look at some shoes, said Ventura County Sheriff’s Lt. Richard Diaz.
The man left, then returned about 15 minutes later, threatened a salesclerk with a razor blade and demanded money, Diaz said.
Wielding one of the store’s box cutters, which has a razor blade, the man grabbed a salesclerk and held the razor near her throat, said Katherine Paxton, store manager.
After the salesclerk gave him about $130 cash, the robber ran out of the store and fled on foot with several others who were waiting outside, Diaz said.
A few minutes later, some residents a few blocks away saw Soto and some others walking through the neighborhood and called the police, Diaz said.
Sheriff’s deputies arrested Soto, but the others ran away, Diaz said. Soto is scheduled for arraignment Monday on charges of robbery and possession of a weapon.
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