Thousands of dollars was stolen from a Bay Area roller derby league when two players were robbed as they returned home to San Francisco’s Mission District from a match in Richmond earlier this month, police said.
Two members of B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls–a skater-owned and operated nonprofit women’s flat track roller derby league–were unlocking the door to an apartment in the 100 block of Guerrero Street on July 9 around 11:30 p.m. when two armed men approached them from behind and demanded the cash box they were carrying, San Francisco police Officer Albie Esparza said.
He declined to say how much money was in the box but said it was in the thousands.
The suspects forced the women to the ground, took the box and ran away, Esparza said. The women, who are 31 and 37 years old, were not injured in the attack.
The victims told police they believed they were targets of the armed robbery because the suspects did not steal any other valuables except for the cash box, he said.
“No words were said other than ‘Hand over the cash box,'” Esparza said.
He did not know whether the league had been robbed in the past.
When the women were looking for a parking spot near their building, they noticed a light-colored 1990s Mazda van, he said.
“They noticed the van waiting for an available parking spot, but the van didn’t take the spot and parked on another street,” Esparza said.
San Francisco police are searching for a vehicle matching the victims’ description in addition to the suspects.
Esparza described one of the suspects as a black man in his mid 20s about 6 feet tall, 250 pounds, who was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt. The other suspect is described as a black man in his 20s about 6 feet tall, 240 pounds, with shoulder-length dreadlocks, who was wearing dark clothing.
The B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls is asking fans to donate to the league in an effort to recoup some of the losses. Those who wish to contribute can visit the league’s website at www.bayareaderbygirls.com and click the “Donate” button.
The league is also looking for supporters to attend the upcoming Golden Bowl Tournament from Aug. 12-14 at the Oakland Convention Center.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call the San Francisco Police Department’s anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or send a tip by text message to TIP411.
Rachel Purdy, Bay City News
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