Funeral donation jar stolen in Redlands robbery; police say employee knocked to floor

REDLANDS, Calif. — Redlands police are investigating a strong-arm robbery after a suspect allegedly stole a donation jar raising money for a funeral and pushed a Subway employee to the floor when she tried to intervene.

The robbery occurred Wednesday evening, July 8, at the Subway restaurant at 1256 Orange St., according to the Redlands Police Department's weekly crime update.

Police said the suspect stole a jar containing donated cash before knocking the employee to the ground while fleeing. The suspect escaped, and the investigation is ongoing.

In a separate incident, police arrested a man after authorities said he intentionally drove his vehicle toward a Redlands police officer outside the Redlands Civic Center.

According to police, the man entered an office at the Civic Center, 35 Cajon St., on Thursday morning, July 2, and became argumentative with city employees. He left after officers responded, but later returned to the parking lot as officers were leaving and allegedly drove directly at one of them. The officer swerved to avoid a head-on collision. No injuries were reported.

Police also arrested a woman after authorities said she attempted to steal a vehicle from Redlands Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, 500 W. Redlands Blvd., shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday, July 8.

A security guard monitoring surveillance cameras reported the woman entered a vehicle that had been left on the lot for service and attempted to drive away but was unable to exit because other vehicles blocked the lot. Officers found her inside the vehicle with its key fob and drug paraphernalia, police said.

Authorities also announced the recovery of approximately $10,000 worth of stolen tools and an iPad taken from a vehicle in the 100 block of East Hilton Avenue on Friday, July 3.

Police said the victim tracked the stolen iPad to an address in Riverside and located his property inside an unoccupied vehicle. Riverside police secured the scene until Redlands officers obtained a search warrant, recovered the stolen property and returned it to the owner. The investigation remains ongoing.

The incidents were included in the Redlands Police Department's weekly crime update covering July 2 through July 9. The department said the report highlights selected incidents and is not intended to be a comprehensive list of calls for service.