Little Tokyo Robbery Suspect Sought NR121162bb

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department Central Division Robbery detectives are asking for the public’s help in providing information that would lead to the arrest of a suspect who robbed a store in Little Tokyo by punching two female clerks in the face.

On April 6, 2012, around 4:30 p.m., the suspect entered a store in the 200 block of East 1st Street, in the Little Tokyo Area of Downtown Los Angeles.  The suspect immediately walked up to the store clerk behind the counter, punched her in the face, and emptied the cash register.  A second clerk attempted to intervene and was also punched in the face several times resulting in major injuries.  The suspect then took the contents of the cash register and both store clerks’ purses and walked out of the store.  Surveillance video captured the suspect as he walked away from the store.

The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, black hair, and brown eyes, about 40 years-old, stands  5 feet 10 inches tall, and weighs around 200 pounds.  He was seen wearing a black jacket with tan pants, and dark brown dress shoes.

“Nothing but a bully,” said LAPD Senior Lead Officer Jack Richter, “This suspect could have taken the money and fled, but he chose to brutally attack two innocent women who did not resist.  The crime occurred in one of the safest areas of Los Angeles, and what the suspect did not know was that the community has been updating the neighborhood surveillance system and several cameras captured his image as he fled
the scene.”

Surveillance video of the robbery suspect is available at LAPD Central Station. Senior Lead Officer Jack Ritcher can be reached at 951-532-5766.

If anyone has any additional information regarding this crime please contact Central Division Robbery Detectives at 213-972-1203. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.