Police Seeking Kidnap/Robbery Suspects NR09277ne

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) 77th Division detectives are seeking the public’s help in identifying two suspects in a kidnap /robbery investigation.

On Tuesday, May 19, 2009, at about 11:30 a.m., a male Hispanic approached the victim as she was walking in the area of Western Avenue and 89th Street.  The suspect stopped the victim to ask her directions to the local immigration office.  As she was distracted by the male suspect, a female suspect drove next to the victim and asked what happened, looking concerned.  The male suspect then brandished a knife at the victim, and the female suspect ordered her to get into the vehicle.  Both suspects drove the victim to the Bank of America located at Western Avenue and Olympic Boulevard and demanded that she withdraw all of her money from her account.  The victim proceeded to tell them that she had no money, but the female suspect told her that they had been monitoring her frequent visits to the bank and knew she had money.  Fearing for her safety, the victim withdrew all her funds and gave the cash to the two suspects.  The suspects then drove the victim to the area of Harvard Boulevard and 11th Street and dropped her off.

The male suspect is described as 30 years old, 5 feet 5 inches tall, 140 pounds, wearing large eye glasses and having a “lazy” eye, with a wide forehead, big mouth, complained of stomach pain and coughed a lot.

The second suspect is described as a female Hispanic about 40 years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 160 pounds, with shoulder-length brown hair in a ponytail and acne scars on both cheeks.  She was wearing a brown blouse with a tan vest.  The vehicle she was driving is described as a 2000-2005 black, four-door SUV with a roof rack, tinted windows and a leather steering wheel wrap/cover.

Both suspects, possibly from Central America, spoke kindly to the victim and assured her that if she followed instructions she would be unharmed.  

Anyone with information is asked to contact 77th Robbery Detectives at 213-473-4864.  After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247).  Callers may also text “Crimes” with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on web tips.  When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with “LAPD.”  Tipsters may remain anonymous.