Robbery Suspects Caught on Video NR14168sm

West Valley Area:  Los Angeles Police Department West Valley and Topanga Divisions Robbery detectives are asking for the public’s help in providing any information that would lead to the arrest of the suspects wanted for committing two armed robberies in the San Fernando Valley Area of Los Angeles.

On Friday, April 11, 2014, around 9:00 p.m., two suspects, one armed with a handgun entered an electronics store located in the 20000 block of Sherman Way, ordered the employees to the back room, had them open the safe and removed approximately $30,000 in cell phones.  Suspect #1 told the employees the gun he had was real. Suspect #2 removed all the cell phones and both suspects fled the store. Unfortunately there is no video footage of the suspects and it is not known if the suspects left on foot or in a vehicle.  

On Thursday, April 24, 2014, around 9:15 a.m., the same suspects entered an electronics store located in the 17000 block of Vanowen Street; again suspect #1 had a firearm.  Like the first robbery, suspect #1 ordered the employee to the rear room of the store and directed her to open the safe.  Suspect #2 removed approximately $42,000 worth of cell phones and both suspects quickly exited the store.  As in the previous robbery, suspect #1 told the store employee his gun was real.  Unlike the first robbery, both suspects were captured on video surveillance and seen by numerous witnesses who were able to provide police with detailed descriptions of the suspects and their vehicle.  Detectives, believing both cases to be related, showed the video footage from the robbery on April 24th to the employees from the robbery on April 11th.  The employees recognized both suspects and identified them as the suspects who robbed them earlier in the month.

Suspect #1 is described as a male Hispanic between 25 and 30-years-old, who stands 6 feet 00 inches to 6 feet 03 inches tall and weighs between 200 and 220 pounds, wearing a black suit and black Aviator sunglasses. The Suspect carried a handgun and seemed to be the lead suspect, as he did all the talking. Detectives remind the public that the suspect should be considered armed and dangerous.  

Suspect #2 is described as a male Hispanic between 25 and 30-years-old, stands 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet 00 inches tall and weighs between 220 and 230 pounds, wearing a long sleeve gray sweater, brown plaid shorts and a black backpack.  Suspect #2 is believed of having been in the stores a few days prior to both robberies.  Prior to the commission of both robberies, suspect #2 entered the stores first and pretended to browse for merchandise.

The suspects’ vehicle is described as a 1999 to 2000, green Honda or Nissan with slight traffic accident damage to the left front bumper.

A local business surveillance camera captured the suspects’ images, during the robbery on Vanowen Street.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is urged to contact West Valley Division Robbery Detective Angeles at (818) 374-7746 or Topanga Division Robbery Detective Ruiz at (818) 756-2523.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  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 "web tips" and follow the prompts.