I-Pod Robberies

On July 24, 2007 at 3:30 p.m., two robberies occurred in the area of La Serna High School. The first occurred at La Serna Dr. and Youngwood Dr. A 15 year-old high school student was approached by two male Hispanics as he was walking in the area. He was told by the suspects to give them his I-Pod. Fearing for his safety, the student handed over his I-Pod. The suspects left in a waiting vehicle.

A second incident occurred shortly thereafter, when a 16 year-old high school student was walking in the 8400 block of Villaverde Drive. The boy heard someone calling out to him, as the student turned, he was approached by two Hispanic males who demanded his I-Pod. In this incident, one of the suspects grabbed the headphones and I-Pod away from the boy.

Officers were able to obtain a license plate from a passerby who had observed a Chevrolet Astro van in the area of these two incidents. Later that evening, a Whittier police officer saw the van in the 5400 block of Norwalk Blvd. The officer stopped the van, and during his investigation he found the stolen I-Pods in the van.

One of the victims was able to identify two of the suspects from inside of the van.
A total of five people were arrested for the robberies. Three male juveniles, ages 16 to 17, who reside in the city of Whittier, were booked and transported to Los Padrinos Juvenile Detention Facility. The other two male adults were identified as Victor Sosa 19 years-old, of Pico Rivera and Eric Gutierrez, 18 years-old, of La Habra. They are currently in custody at the Whittier Police Department jail.

Anyone with further information is encouraged to contact the Whittier Police Department at (562) 945-8250.