Robbery of an Armored Car Courier Caught on Tape

July 5, 2008

Los Angeles: Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division are investigating the robbery of an armored car courier.

On July 5, 2008, at 9:12 a.m., a local meat market in the 14100 block of South Vermont Avenue, awaited their scheduled service from the Dunbar armored truck company. As the courier guard entered the market, he was immediately attacked by a lone suspect. The courier fell to the ground and the suspect fled with the "coal bag" containing an undisclosed amount of cash. The courier chased the suspect on foot and fired two rounds at him as he entered a dark, possibly black or green, mid ‘90s Isuzu Trooper. It is believed that at least one of the rounds struck the rear window of the suspect’s car, causing the window to fall from the frame.

Witnesses described the robbery suspect as a 25-30 year-old Hispanic or light complected Black male. He stood approximately 5’7”, weighed between 160-170, pounds, had dark eyes, a beard and a braided ponytail. The suspect wore a white baseball hat, a long sleeve blue and white plaid shirt, long blue jean shorts, white socks and dark sandals.

Robbery-Homicide Division Detectives M. Tomes and F. Arroyo are handling the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact them during regular business hours at 213-485-2511. On weekends and during off-hours, the public is asked to call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855). CALLERS MAY REMAIN ANONYMOUS.

Surveillance video captured the robbery on tape and can be viewed at LAPD’s Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.