Two Armed Street Robbery Suspects Arrested NR15051rh

Los Angeles: Olympic & Wilshire Area robbery detectives identified and arrested two armed robbery suspects involved in a robbery crime spree impacting both divisions.

The robbery spree began in January 2015 and ended recently with the arrest of 18-year-old Jose Roberto Junior Marroquin and his crime partner, 20-year-old Alan Arellano, both Los Angeles residents. Detectives connected the pair to at least ten street & attempted robberies.

The pair took turns randomly robbing victims walking at night in residential areas in the Arlington Heights, Country Club Heights, Hancock Park, Melrose, Mid City, and Wilshire Center neighborhoods of Los Angeles.

Detectives received a break in the case when a witness saw one of the robberies on February 7, 2015. During this robbery, the victim struggled with the armed suspect and yelled for help, gaining the attention of the witness. The witness was able to take a picture of the suspects’ vehicle license plate with his cellphone, which aided detectives in their investigation.

Olympic Area detectives conducted a vehicle license query, which lead to the identification of Jose Roberto Junior Marroquin who resembled one of the robbery suspects. Further queries revealed that Marroquin owned a second vehicle that matched video surveillance footage taken from a Red Box Kiosk. The footage showed Marroquin’s vehicle and Marroquin using a stolen credit card taken from one of the robberies.

Olympic and Wilshire Area robbery detectives showed photographic line-ups with Marroquin’s image to their respective victims, which resulted in Marroquin being positively identified in the robbery series.

On February 9, 2015, around 12:15 p.m., Olympic detectives and Olympic Parole Compliance Unit (PCU) officers arrested Marroquin at his residence in Southwest Area. A search of his residence resulted in the recovery of an air pistol resembling a Walther PPK pistol, two stolen cellular phones, and narcotics.

Olympic detectives interviewed Marroquin, who confessed to committing 10 armed street robberies using the same air pistol that was recovered. Detectives developed the identity of the second suspect (Alan Arellano) via additional computer queries.

On February 11, 2015, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office filed six counts of 2nd degree robbery against Marroquin with his bail set at $300,000 dollars.

On February 12, 2015, around 10 a.m., Olympic detectives arrested Alan Arrellano in front of Southwest Area Police Station. Arrellano confessed to being involved in three robberies (two as the getaway driver and one as the primary suspect). This case is pending the review of the Office of the District Attorney.

Detectives are asking for the public’s help to locate additional robbery victims or witnesses to robberies committed by the above two suspects.

Anyone with information is urged to call Olympic Detectives Sergio Martinez and Anthony Kong, at (213) 382-9460. Anonymous tips can be called into Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.