Phoebe Judge

Once they had their jackets on, the man walked them over to the walk-in cooler and shut the door.

The employee saw that he had tried to lock them in by putting the long metal legs of a lemon slicer through the door's handle, but it didn't really work. Mervat Fayed still works for McDonald's today as a director of operations overseeing several stores. When we met her, she took us into the back, into the walk-in cooler.

The employee saw that he had tried to lock them in by putting the long metal legs of a lemon slicer through the door's handle, but it didn't really work. Mervat Fayed still works for McDonald's today as a director of operations overseeing several stores. When we met her, she took us into the back, into the walk-in cooler.

So you were all in here. And how long do you think you were in here total?

So you were all in here. And how long do you think you were in here total?

So when you walked out, you opened this door, and then were you all kind of looking around to see if he was still there?

So when you walked out, you opened this door, and then were you all kind of looking around to see if he was still there?

Other alarms inside the store were going off too. The alarms for the safe and for the unattended ovens.

Other alarms inside the store were going off too. The alarms for the safe and for the unattended ovens.

About 12 officers responded. They started driving around, looking for the suspect. There had been another robbery at a nearby McDonald's late the night before. Employees there were also locked in the walk-in cooler. About a mile from the McDonald's, one officer noticed a car in the middle of a church parking lot. He went to look at the car and saw a man coming out of some trees.

About 12 officers responded. They started driving around, looking for the suspect. There had been another robbery at a nearby McDonald's late the night before. Employees there were also locked in the walk-in cooler. About a mile from the McDonald's, one officer noticed a car in the middle of a church parking lot. He went to look at the car and saw a man coming out of some trees.

When the man spotted the officer, he ran back into the woods.

When the man spotted the officer, he ran back into the woods.

The man reportedly said to the officers, you guys did a real good job today.

The man reportedly said to the officers, you guys did a real good job today.

The morning of the robbery, Sky Poli says he got a phone call. He's a retired special agent for the California Department of Justice.

The morning of the robbery, Sky Poli says he got a phone call. He's a retired special agent for the California Department of Justice.

I'm Phoebe Judge. This is Criminal. We'll be right back. Support for Criminal comes from Quince. Sometimes I'll save new clothes to wear for the first time when I'm on vacation. You can find new things for your upcoming trip at Quince. They have lightweight European linen pants from $30, a lot of styles of sleeveless linen dresses, bathing suits, and leather tote bags.

I'm Phoebe Judge. This is Criminal. We'll be right back. Support for Criminal comes from Quince. Sometimes I'll save new clothes to wear for the first time when I'm on vacation. You can find new things for your upcoming trip at Quince. They have lightweight European linen pants from $30, a lot of styles of sleeveless linen dresses, bathing suits, and leather tote bags.

So whether you're in the car, on a long flight, or walking around a new city all day, you can be cool and comfortable. All of Quince's items are priced 50 to 80 percent less than similar brands. I've been wearing Quince's long-sleeve organic cotton button-down in black. It's cropped just slightly so it doesn't bunch up or get too wrinkled.