Suspects Sought in Grand Theft Auto and ID Theft NR10417cj

August 19, 2010

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) West Los Angeles Area auto detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying two grand theft auto suspects.  

On Sunday, July 26, 2010 at around 9:45 a.m., a man walked outside of his residence in the 800 block of South Bedford Street and discovered his car was stolen.  He immediately notified the LAPD and filed a report. He advised that he parked and secured his car the night before around 9 p.m.  He informed police there were credit cards and other personal items of his that were left in the car.  He also advised police he called and cancelled his credit card accounts. Later, his car was recovered in LAPD’s Wilshire Division, but no arrests were made.

A few hours later, around 3 p.m., a woman also walked outside her home in the 800 block of South Leddux Road and discovered her car was stolen.  She also called the police to report the incident and told them she last parked her car the day before around 2 p.m.

Detectives believe that between the hours of 9 p.m. on July 25 and 9 a.m. on July 26, a suspect(s) broke into the victim’s car on Bedford Street and stole a 2002 silver Honda Accord.  Between the hours of 2 p.m. on July 25 and 3 p.m. July 26, they believe the same suspect(s) stole the other victim’s 2005 Buick Lacross on Leddux Road.  

On the morning of July 26, 2010, at around 8:39 a.m. a man entered a Home Depot in the 5600 block of Sunset Boulevard in the Hollywood area with a woman and was caught on surveillance camera purchasing items using a credit card that belonged to the owner of the Honda.

Later at 9:45 a.m., the two drove to a Radio Shack in the 5700 block of Melrose Avenue in the Wilshire area.  They were driving a dark-colored GNC Yukon or Chevy Tahoe.  Detectives say the woman stayed in the car as the man entered the store.  When the man tried to purchase items with the credit card he used at Home Depot, it came back declined, and the suspect was caught on surveillance camera leaving the store empty handed.  

Detectives believe the man and woman involved with the store purchases are also responsible for the stolen cars.

The first suspect is described as a 20- to 25-year-old white male. He stands at 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs between 160 and 170 pounds.  He has brown hair with a light-brown mustache.  He was wearing a blue “LA” Dodgers baseball cap, blue long-sleeve shirt and white shorts.

The second suspect is described as a white female in her mid-20s.  She stands between 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 7 inches and has long blonde hair with dark-brown roots.  She was wearing a grey sweat jacket and grey jeans.    

Surveillance video of the suspects is available by going to www.lapdonline.com and clicking “newsroom.”    

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call West LA detective Turner at 310-444-1506.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.   Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers 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 "webtips" and follow the prompts.