PACIFIC BEACH, Calif. — Two suspects are in custody after an attempted robbery at a MetroPCS store on Grand Avenue in Pacific Beach Tuesday afternoon.
Police said Tuesday that two men - identified as Justin Caldwell, 30, and 29-year-old Geraldo Jesus Rivera - were taken into custody without incident following the attempted robbery in the 900 block of Grand Avenue at about 2 p.m.
The two were taken into custody on separate nearby streets.
What officers said appeared to be a weapon brandished by one of the men, turned out to be an airsoft pellet gun.
Officers hold news conference on arrests relating to MetroPCS robberies:
Police did not definitively say whether the two men were also the suspects being sought for other robberies of MetroPCS stores in the San Diego area, but they investigating "similarities" between the crimes.
In recent weeks, San Diego-area MetroPCS stores have been plagued by robberies in College Area, Spring Valley and Poway.
The suspects of those robberies have threatened employees with guns, stun guns and a machetes.
RELATED: Metro PCS store robbed in College Area
RELATED: Police seek suspects in string of Metro PCS robberies
Pair arrested in Metro PCS robbery spree, but police believe they weren't acting alone @10News @7 pic.twitter.com/zrs5vpsjDp
— Rachel Bianco (@10NewsRBianco) February 22, 2017
The robberies have occurred at:
January 27, 2017 – Metro PCS, 4202 El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego
January 30, 2017 – Metro PCS, 3458 Adams Avenue, San Diego
January 25, 2017 – Metro PCS, 8662 Jamacha Road, Spring Valley
February 1, 2017 – Metro PCS, 1840 Coronado Avenue, San Diego
February 6, 2017 – Metro PCS, 12643 Poway Road, Poway
February 7, 2017– Metro PCS, 5430 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego
February 8, 2017 – Metro PCS, 6686 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego
Sandy Coronilla is a KGTV digital producer. Follow her @10NewsSandy
