An early morning robbery Monday in Escalon is under investigation by police, with the robber fleeing on foot with an unknown amount of cash.

Police were in the area of Emil’s Liquors in the 1400 block of California Street early Monday morning, authorities said, and stopped to do a security check when the officer observed a clerk appearing to be consoled by the owner.

The incident had occurred just a few minutes prior so the police had not been contacted yet, said officials, but were able to take a report and begin an investigation shortly after arriving on the scene. The robbery occurred shortly after midnight on Monday, Jan. 6. A subject described as a white male, about five feet, four inches tall, came into the store wearing a black beanie, a black and silver bandana covering his face, black jeans and a black jacket. He produced a silver handgun of unknown caliber and demanded money from the clerk, pointing the weapon at the employee. Cash was handed over and the robber fled the store on foot, last seen northbound on Highway 120.

Police said a few minutes later, a robbery report was taken in neighboring Riverbank, under similar circumstances, with a robbery at a convenience store in the 3700 block of Atchison. It is unknown if they are connected, but the Riverbank case occurred just after 12:30 a.m.

Police are asking anyone that may have seen anything or anyone suspicious in the area to contact them at 838-7093 or call the CrimeStoppers at 1-866-602-7463 (1-866-60CRIME).

The Monday incident was one of a handful of cases for police over the last week, with a traffic stop early Sunday in the area of Vine and Brook resulting in a driving under the influence arrest. The 21-year-old Modesto man was processed at the local station and then released.

A rash of vehicle thefts were also reported for the week and police arrested a Waterford man on a pair of felony counts after receiving a New Year’s Eve call of a subject taking items from a store on McHenry. The call, received about 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 31, ultimately resulted in the area of Timothy Ewing, 34, of Waterford on felony petty theft with a prior conviction and felony possession of narcotic/controlled substance for having medication in his possession that did not belong to him. Police found him hiding in the bushes along McHenry Avenue and discovered he was on Probation and searchable. He was booked at San Joaquin County Jail.