Police Arrest Two on Suspicion of Robbing Retail Stores in Pinole

Pinole police arrested two El Sobrante residents last week on suspicion of armed robbery at the Burlington Coat Factory on Fitzgerald Drive.

Officers arrested Gursimran Singh, 27 and Nidhi Warraich, 28, shortly after Singh had allegedly threatened to shoot a store employee who had tried to stop him from stealing a pair of shoes. Singh is also a suspect in as many as four robberies at Target in Pinole.

Here is the full press release from the Pinole Police Department.:

On October 23, 2013 at approximately 1100 AM, Pinole Police Officers responded to the Burlington Coat Factory, 1300 block of Fitzgerald Drive, on report of a robbery that had just occurred.

Investigation revealed that Gursimran Singh, 27, and Nidhi Warraich, 28, both of El Sobrante, were observed removing a theft device from a pair of tennis shoes by Burlington’s Loss Prevention Agent. Singh proceeded to place the merchandise on his feet and exited the store without paying. As the couple was confronted outside of the store, a physical confrontation ensued where Singh eventually brandished a loaded firearm and threatened to kill the employee in an attempt to avoid apprehension.

Responding officers observed the suspect vehicle fleeing the area and conducted a “high risk” traffic stop.  The vehicle contained the suspects, stolen merchandise and the loaded firearm. Both suspects were subsequently arrested, taken into custody and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on several charges including robbery and aggravated assault.

While on scene, a representative of Target reported that Singh was also a suspect in an earlier burglary from their business and was thought to be responsible for up to four previous burglaries at their store. Target Loss Prevention provided video, photos and reports for the four suspected incidents.

This investigation is still on-going and we encourage anyone with information on this incident or other incidents involving Singh or Warraich to please contact the Pinole Police Department at 510-724-8950.