Robbery Series Downtown NR10234pv

May 5, 2010

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles detectives released video footage and still photos of a robbery duo whom detectives believe committed four armed street robberies in downtown Los Angeles and Chinatown since April 25, 2010.

While the video does not depict the robbery, it does show the moment the two suspects, walking down the sidewalk, see their victim and change their path to rob her.  “It’s quite eerie to watch,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer over downtown detectives.  “It’s like watching the wolf eye the fawn.”

Detectives have attributed four robberies to these two Hispanic men who are in their late teens or early twenties.  The first two robberies occurred on April 25, 2010, fifteen minutes apart.  At 1:30 a.m., two men from a black 4-door car robbed a man in the parking lot in the 900 block of Francisco Street, then the suspects went north to 8th Street and Figueroa Street where they robbed a woman in a parking lot.  The car was described in the first robbery only, and had the attached license plate: 5WTG502.  That plate turned out to have been junked and no longer assigned to a car.

The duo struck again on April 28, in a side alley leading to valet parking in the 800 block of South Broadway.  This robbery is the only one of the robberies captured on video.  “The guy with the gun pointed it right into the 26-year-old woman’s chest, then jerked her purse off her arm.  His accomplice grabbed the phone from her hand,” Lt. Vernon explained. “We hope anyone who recognizes either of these two robbers will call us.”

The most recent robbery attributed to the two occurred on May 3, just after 7 p.m., when they robbed a 30-year-old man of his money and cell phone in a residential area of Chinatown.  “This time the victim described a black Honda, which was consistent with the first robbery in the series,” Lt. Vernon explained.

In the April 28th robbery, both suspects were wearing hoodies.  One hoodie read “American Eagle” across the chest of the shorter suspect.

“Series like these are infrequent, so if the public can help us identify these guys, we can take a big bite out of the robberies and help people feel safer,” Lt. Vernon added.

This investigation is being conducted by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Central Division Robbery Detectives.   Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Detective Al Rasch at 213-972-1245.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) using a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters can also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on “web tips” and follow the prompts.

Video and still photos are available from Central Area Detective Division.