Armed Robbery Suspects - In Custody

At 4:09 PM today, Whittier Police received a report of an armed robbery at Public Storage, 12320 E. Whittier Boulevard, corner of Whittier and Putnam. Suspects were described as three male Hispanics, age 16-23, wearing black and white bandanas and dark clothing. The weapon was a rifle. Loss was $500 in cash. The suspects fled in a newer model light green or aqua passenger car with no plates. A helicopter from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department conducted an air search for the vehicle.

At 4:39 PM, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy was at the AM/PM Mini Mart at Slauson/Pioneer, when he saw a suspicious subject standing by a vehicle in the parking lot. The deputy knew his airship was searching for our robbery suspects and detained this subject, along with two other individuals. The victim and witnesses from the robbery were taken to the scene and positively identified the vehicle and two of the suspects. All three were taken into custody without incident. Officers recovered a .22 caliber rifle from the vehicle.

Further investigation revealed a potential outstanding suspect. Witnesses reported that suspect possibly entered a restroom at a nearby gas station. Officers searched the business with negative results. Whittier Police, Los Angeles County Sheriff, and California Highway Patrol officers locked down the area and began a systematic search for the suspect. The search was suspended shortly before 8 PM. The investigation continues.