At approximately 8:50 p.m., Burlingame police responded to a report of a robbery at the Union 76 gas station at 1200 Bayshore Highway. An East Coast jewelry salesman stopped at the station to enter the mini mart for snacks when he was confronted by four male adults dressed in dark clothing demanding that he “hand over the stuff.”

A fight ensued and the thieves were able to overpower the salesman and steal a large amount of jewelry, said Burlingame police Cmdr. Brad Floyd.

The salesman suffered injuries to his cheek, lip, left knee and a cut to the right side of his throat. It appears the men may have used a knife, but no weapon was recovered at the scene, Floyd said.

The men escaped in a dark car, possibly a black Pontiac Grand Am.

The salesman flagged down a nearby California Highway Patrol officer and the Burlingame Police Department was subsequently alerted.

The four men are described as Hispanic.

Jewelry heists are not uncommon. They occur most often in areas with hotels, such as Burlingame and South San Francisco. The crime is often associated with Colombian gangs who operate with inside information, Floyd said.

Anyone with information about this crime should call the Burlingame Police Department at 777-4100.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.