Recently in Robberies Category

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If you haven't checked out our new Valley Crime Map, you should. It's a list of 92 significant crimes - from homicides, to assaults to shootings, to robberies and burglaries - in the Valley since May. I've been compiling the data and uploading it into a new online database that maps the crimes out by street and allows you, the viewer to, search by neighborhood and get up-to-date information about crime near you.

Thanks to the Los Angeles Police Department's Valley Bureau, the information comes to me about daily. I'd like to know what you think about the map and how we can make it more useful. E-mail me with your thoughts.

Police are looking for a man who has gone on a string of cash tray robberies at five businesses.

A serial robber is on the loose, and police are asking for the public's help tracking the suspect down.

The bandit is believed to be responsible for at least five robberies over the past two months in the Mid-City Wilshire and Hollywood area. The robberies occurred at various times of day, and the man pointed a handgun at the clerk each time.

The suspect is described as a White male 25-30 years of age with brown hair. He stands between five feet seven and five feet nine inches tall.

* April, 29, 2008 - At 10:20 p.m., a man wearing a camouflage cap and a grey hooded sweatshirt, walked into the Ardmore Liquor store located at 3rd Street and Ardmore Avenue, picked up a pack of gum and took it to the counter. When the cashier opened the register, the man removed a gun from his waistband, grabbed the entire cash drawer and fled in a burgundy 80's Toyota Camry.

* May 1, 2008 - At 2:50 a.m., the suspect entered a Denny's restaurant located at Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue, where he pointed a handgun at the clerk and demanded money. The suspect grabbed the entire cash register drawer and ran.

* May 3, 2008 - At 3:20 a.m., the suspect walked into the same Denny's restaurant, this time wearing a wig. He pulled out a handgun, demanded the employee to turn over the money and again took off on foot with the cash register tray.

* May 31, 2008 - At 11 p.m., the suspect walked up to a parking lot attendant near the Beverly Center at La Cienega Boulevard and 3rd Street and robbed the employee at gunpoint once again, the suspect got away with the entire cash register tray.

* June 2, 2008 - At 2:45 p.m., the bandit entered a Chinese restaurant at 2nd Street and Western Avenue. As before, the suspect pulled out a handgun, ordered the clerk to hand over the money and fled with the cash register tray.

Anyone with information about these robberies is urged to call Wilshire Robbery Detective Luis Corona at (213) 922-8266. On off hours, weekends, and holidays calls may be directed to the toll free number 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).

From overnight in the Valley, significant crimes ...

A report of someone brandishing a weapon was reported yesterday at 3:20 p.m. at Sherman Way and Jordan Avenue in Canoga Park. The victim, described as a 40-year-old male, was sitting in his car in the Post Office parking lot, waiting for his girlfriend, when the suspect, described as male white between 30 and 40, approached. The suspect stated to the victim "I need a hundred dollars and I need transportation." The victim was not in fear and ignored the suspect. The suspect then stated "leave a hundred dollars on the seat and leave the key." Then the victim's girlfriend returned to the car and the suspect turned away. The victim then saw the handle of a semi-automatic pistol in the suspect's pocket. There were no injuries and no property was taken.

A robbery was reported yesterday at 10:45 p.m. in the 14600 block of Chase. The suspect, described as a male black in his 20s, 6-feet, 150-160 lbs, approached the victim in the parking lot and pointed a stainless steel semi-automatic pistol at the Victim. The suspect rummaged through the Victim's pockets and removed currency and jewelry before taking off in a vehicle occupied by three additional male blacks.

From our friends at LAPD Valley Bureau this morning:

An assault with a deadly weapon shooting was reported yesterday at 4:10 p.m. at Gloria Avenue and Victory Boulevard in Van Nuys. A male suspect in a vehicle fired at several pedestrians on the street. A school bus with children on it witnessed the incident. The school bus was not hit.

A robbery was reported yesterday at 6 p.m. in the 22700 block of Oxnard Street. A male white in his 40s entered a gas station with a large knife and walked right into the cash register room where he demanded the employee open the register and give him the money. The suspect gave the employee his own bag. Once the suspect had the money, he ran away.

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This morning you read about a man who held up a McDonald's in the Valley, now we've got the great Karaoke thieves. A little robbery potpourri.

Los Angeles police are looking for two men who were caught on a surveillance camera robbing a Karaoke business at gunpoint on April 14.

The robbery occurred in broad daylight, shortly after 3 p.m. when the pair entered the DJ Karaoke Box located at 4121 West Olympic Boulevard. One of the bandits approached the counter posing as a customer and acted as a lookout. Moments later, the other bandit walked up to a female employee standing behind the counter, showed a handgun, and demanded she open the cash register and turn over the money. The cashier complied with the suspect’s orders because she feared for her life, police said. The suspect grabbed an undisclosed amount of cash, a carton of Marlboro Light cigarettes, and a personal cell phone, and placed them in a white shopping bag with handles.

After taking the personal items and cash, both suspects walked out the back door and fled in a 2002-2005 grey, four-door Nissan Altima.

The gunman was described as a 20-25 year old Korean, and was wearing a white long- sleeve shirt and black pants. The second suspect, also described as Korean, was wearing a blue flannel shirt that he used to shield his face and conceal his identity.

No shots were fired and the cashier was not injured.

Surveillance footage and still photographs of the suspects are available through Media Relations Section.

Anyone who recognizes the suspects is asked to contact Wilshire Robbery Detectives Tae Hong or Webster Wong at (213) 922-8205/8231. During weekends and off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFUL (1-877-529-3855).

ENCINO - There was a robbery at a McDonald's in Encino overnight and cops were looking for the culprit who dropped some of the loot on a nearby sidewalk as he fled from the scene, authorities said.

The robbery in the 15700 block of Ventura Boulevard near Haskell Avenue was reported around 11:10 p.m. Wednesday, a sergeant from the Los Angeles Police Department's West Valley Station said.

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Calling around to the Mission Division yesterday, cops told me the story of a group of young gangsters who went on a robbery spree in Sylmar. The youngest suspect is 16 and he's accused of wielding the weapon during the hold-ups. It wasn't some gang initiation rite either. They were doing it for the thrill.

SYLMAR - Five suspected gang members, including a 16-year-old boy, were arrested in connection with a string of at least seven street robberies over the last couple of weeks in the Sylmar area, police said today.

Sunland residents, Miguel Ramos Jr., an 18-year-old auto bodyshop worker, and Melissa J. Graciano, also 18, were arrested April 8 after a hold-up at a Sylmar smoke shop, said Los Angeles Police Officer Christine Mondell. They are accused of stealing a vaporizer used to smoke pot, Mondell said. Both allegedly are members of the Toonerville gang, police said.

They and three others, Francisco J. Carranza, a 20-year-old gardener from Sylmar, Sylvia Medina, 21, a customer service rep from Pacoima, and an unidentified 16-year-old boy are accused of ripping off a couple thousand dollars from at least seven people at gunpoint on the streets of Sylmar over the last two weeks. The 16-year-old is accused of wielding the gun during the heists, Mondell said. He is an alleged member of an up-and-coming gang known as 2XL.

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