Davis man kidnapped, robbed by couple citing financial distress over coronavirus lockdown

Police are searching for a couple who allegedly kidnapped and robbed a man Wednesday in Davis. The robbers cited financial troubles because of the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, the victim told police.

At 4 p.m. Wednesday, the victim was at a gas station on Anderson Road and West Covell Boulevard with his young child in the backseat. While he was pumping gas into his car, a couple pulled into the gas station and asked him for money, saying they had fallen on hard times during the lockdown, said Lt. Art Camacho, spokesman for the Davis Police Department.

The couple were driving a gray SUV and had two sleeping children in the backseat.

The man refused to give them money, but offered to buy their gas. The couple refused and the woman, wearing a white surgical mask over her face, got into the passenger seat of his car and told him to drive to his bank.

The male suspect followed behind in the SUV with their two children.

The man complied and drove to a branch of Bank of America, withdrew $200, and gave it to the woman, saying it was all he had, Camacho said.

The woman was described as wearing a white surgical mask and a brown head covering. The man is believed to be 30 to 35 years old, medium build with black hair, and wearing a purple long sleeve shirt with gray pants, Camacho said.

The couple were seen speaking Spanish to each other, he added.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Davis Police Department at 530-747-5400.