Pismo Beach Police Arrest Two for Armed Robbery at Convenience Store

Pismo Beach Police Department arrested two men on December 6, 2025, for shoplifting at a 7-Eleven that later escalated into an armed robbery, the police shared in a social media post on December 7, 2025. 

Officers responded to reports of shoplifting at the convenience store at around 1:25 a.m., police said. When they arrived, they learned that one of the two suspects had pointed a handgun at the clerk during the ongoing robbery. 

Police obtained a description of the suspects’ vehicle, which was located in the downtown Pismo Beach area a little later with the help of city license plate reading cameras, the police wrote on Instagram.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Pismo Beach Police Department (@pismo_beach_police_dept)

License plate reading cameras are commonly used by law enforcement agencies in California. According to a survey and report issued by the California State Auditor, most of the state’s law enforcement agencies collect and use images captured by these cameras. 

The two suspects were located and arrested, police said. The suspects were booked at the San Luis Obispo County Jail. 

Authorities identified the suspects as Nathaniel Ray Lemus (20), from Los Banos, and Rigoberto Cisneroslopez (22). 

Two women associated with the suspects were interviewed and released, the police said. 

The police did not disclose any additional information about injuries or damage. 

Officers from the Arroyo Grande Police Department, Grover Beach Police Department, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, and California Highway Patrol helped in the search and locating the suspects, police added. 

Assisting agencies often help to search for suspects and relay information to dispatch, especially if there are chances that suspects may flee across jurisdictional perimeters. 

Charges Against the Suspects

Lemus was booked on the following charges with a bail of $109,000:

• PC 211 – Robbery
• PC 25850(a) – Carrying a loaded firearm
• PC 12022.53(b) – Committing a felony with a firearm
• PC 148(a)(1) – Resisting/obstructing/delaying a peace officer
• Four out of county misdemeanor warrants

Robbery is considered a felony under California law. The seriousness of the crime and charges escalates if the suspect is found guilty of using a firearm. 

Cisneroslopez was booked on the following charges with a bail of $50,000:

• PC 30305(a)(1) – Prohibiting a person possessing firearm ammunition
• PC 4573(a) – Bringing a controlled substance into a jail facility
• PC 11378 – Possessing a controlled substance for sale
• PC 166(a)(4) – Disobeying a court order
• PC 459.5(a) – Shoplifting

The bail amount depends on the severity of the crimes involved.