July 12, 2011 To provide mid-year crime statistics and give the media access to the Chief.
Beverly Hills News
LAPD NEWS
17-year-old Arrested in Smash & Grab Robbery; More Suspects on Video.
August 31, 2011
Los Angeles: Los Angeles detectives arrested a 17-year-old man from South Los Angeles after he was identified in surveillance footage as the suspect wielding the hammer to smash a jewelry case and steal gold chains, along with at least three other accomplices. “We want to put an end to this spree of smash & grabs,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Central Detective Division. “We’ve had six similar robberies along Broadway, downtown, since June 21, 2011.” According to detectives, none of the six robberies are the same suspects, but they all appear to be crews of robbers from South Los Angeles gangs. “We saw a similar pattern this time last year,” Lt. Vernon said. “We made a number of arrests then and the activity stopped.” Detectives have arrested the suspect seen wielding the hammer in the video at the Guadalajara Jewelry Plaza robbery on July 12, 2011. Witnesses wrote down the license plate of a black BMW. Detectives later found it and arrested the 17-year-old inside. They also found a cloth bag containing hammers in the car. The subject’s parents identified him in the video as the suspect with the hammer. According to detectives and crime analysts, the smash & grab robberies are region-wide. “With the price of gold now at $1600 an ounce, gang members have seen the benefit in taking the risk,” Lt. Vernon explained. “We’ve been in contact with a half dozen other agencies from Riverside to Ventura counties that have experienced similar robberies by the same …
Another Smash+Grab Robbery in Jewelry District, Caught on Video
August 31, 2011
Los Angeles: Los Angeles detectives have released video of a brazen, daylight robbery downtown, in which three Black men in red hoodies rush into a jewelry store, pepper spray the owner and smash the display cases, taking over $7000 in costume jewelry. “We’ve been seeing these smash-and-grabs occurring for several weeks,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Central Detective Division. “As you can see in the video, the use of pepper spray has become a common tactic.” The robbery occurred at the 21st Century Jewelry store on June 22, must before 1 PM. The three suspects were 5’9″ to 6’0″ tall and 17 to 20 years old. They left in a white 4-door Toyota Camry with paper plates. Police have investigated seven similar robberies along Broadway since late June. Detectives noted a similar pattern of robberies last summer as well, they and cite the price of gold as a prime motivator for the crimes. The one commonality for all these crimes is the suspects are part of South Los Angeles gangs, though no one gang is directing or leading the spree. “We think that the word has gotten around that this is somehow easy money, but I’m here to tell everyone, we’ve put 13 people in jail over the last couple weeks and we’ll keep doing that until they realize the pickings aren’t so easy,” Lt. Vernon warned. Detectives have noted a pattern of similar robberies across the southland. “We’ve have spoken to other agencies from Tustin to Corona to Inglewood,” Lt. Vernon added. Detectives …
Crook Robs Blind Woman in Little Tokyo, Caught on Video.wmv
August 30, 2011
Los Angeles. Los Angeles detectives have released video of a shocking, daylight robbery in Little Tokyo, in which a man chokes an elderly blind woman to steal her gold chain and jade pendant. “This is shocking to watch, especially when you consider this woman is legally blind,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Central Detective Division. “When you watch the video you can actually read the crook’s mind as he sizes up his victim and waits for witnesses to walk by.” The robbery occurred on 1st Street between Los Angeles Street and San Pedro Street on July 24. The retired resident of Little Tokyo was pushing her walker down the sidewalk around noon, when a short Hispanic man sneaks up behind the 68 year old. The crook grabs her around the throat and chokes her as she struggles to understand what is happening to her. “She fights back, but the suspect gets her gold chain and jade pendant, worth about $100,” Lt. Vernon explained. “If this video doesn’t make you angry, little will.” A man in a nearby business also comes to the victim’s rescue and the suspect runs away. Detectives are combing through other video to see if the suspect’s image is captured later. “Street robberies are uncommon in the Little Tokyo area, so this one really stands out,” Lt. Vernon said. “And this suspect really needs to go to jail.” The mugger was wearing a white shirt, a small back pack, and a baseball cap turned backwards. Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Central …
Crook Robs Blind Woman in Little Tokyo, Caught on Video.wmv
August 30, 2011
Los Angeles. Los Angeles detectives have released video of a shocking, daylight robbery in Little Tokyo, in which a man chokes an elderly blind woman to steal her gold chain and jade pendant. “This is shocking to watch, especially when you consider this woman is legally blind,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Central Detective Division. “When you watch the video you can actually read the crook’s mind as he sizes up his victim and waits for witnesses to walk by.” The robbery occurred on 1st Street between Los Angeles Street and San Pedro Street on July 24. The retired resident of Little Tokyo was pushing her walker down the sidewalk around noon, when a short Hispanic man sneaks up behind the 68 year old. The crook grabs her around the throat and chokes her as she struggles to understand what is happening to her. “She fights back, but the suspect gets her gold chain and jade pendant, worth about $100,” Lt. Vernon explained. “If this video doesn’t make you angry, little will.” A man in a nearby business also comes to the victim’s rescue and the suspect runs away. Detectives are combing through other video to see if the suspect’s image is captured later. “Street robberies are uncommon in the Little Tokyo area, so this one really stands out,” Lt. Vernon said. “And this suspect really needs to go to jail.” The mugger was wearing a white shirt, a small back pack, and a baseball cap turned backwards. Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Central …
Backpack Bandit Strikes in Little Tokyo
August 30, 2011
August 3, 2011 NR11359pv Backpack Bandit Strikes in Little Tokyo Los Angeles. One day after releasing video of a short man with a backpack robbing a blind, elderly woman in Little Tokyo, detectives received video of another robbery by the same suspect against another elderly woman pushing a walker. On August 1, 2011, a 79-year-old resident of Little Tokyo was pushing her walker down a garden path behind 244 S. San Pedro Street. “It was just after 10 AM, when the woman felt a man behind her,” explained Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of detectives downtown. “The man held up the woman’s necklace and said to her, ‘Baby, I’m going to take your chain.'” The video does not show the actual crime, but one can see the suspect, wearing a backpack, emerge from the walking path and run away. The woman emerges just after him, pushing her walker. In this instance, no force was used. The suspect merely unfastened the clasp to the necklace. “After seeing the video, we think this is the same suspect who robbed the blind woman,” Lt. Vernon said. “We’ve dubbed him the Backpack Bandit, and we want anyone who knows him to call us.” Police are warning residents, especially the elderly in Little Tokyo, to be aware of their surroundings. Dubbed the Backpack Bandit, the man has been seen with a backpack in both times he has struck since July 24. Those two crimes occurred within a one-block radius of 1st Street and San Pedro Street, and between 10 AM and noon. The suspect is short, under 5’5 …
Robberies at Westside Stores and Markets Bobs Market
August 30, 2011
Robberies at Westside Stores and Markets Suspects Usually Wearing “Security” Shirts Seen on Surveillance Video Los Angeles: LAPD Pacific Area detectives are looking for at least three suspects who have recently robbed stores and markets located within close proximity to each other in the West Los Angeles area. Their trademark seems to be wearing black shirts with the word “security” written across the back. So far, detectives are aware of three robberies the suspects have committed. The first was last weekend on August 6 at about 8:20 pm at Bob’s Market, 1000 National Blvd. A surveillance video showed a suspect entering the store wearing a black ski mask and a black shirt with “security” written on the back in white letters. He was also wearing gloves and black pants and carrying a revolver handgun. While a cashier was helping another customer, he pointed his gun at the cashier, demanded money and then left the store, heading south on Hughes Avenue. A witness saw the suspect get into a parked car described as a black, four-door Honda driven by a second male suspect. The car was last seen heading south on Hughes Avenue. No description is available of the driver, but the first suspect is described as an 18- to 25-year-old Black male who stands about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs around 165 pounds. The second robbery occurred on August 9 at 8:50 pm at the Overland Liquor Store, 3585 Overland Ave., only a few miles from the site of the first robbery. This time, two …
