Men charged with takeover robberies in West Covina, Baldwin Park

Officials charged two men Friday with two takeover-style robberies at video game stores in West Covina and Baldwin Park.
Gregory Todd, 22, and Thomas Stringer, 23, were each charged with six counts of robbery and six counts of kidnapping, along with a gang enhancement, according to the felony complaint. A charge was filed for each individual person considered a victim of each individual crime.
The robberies the men are charged with took place Wednesday afternoon at a West Covina Gamestop store, 2360 S. Azusa Ave., and a Baldwin Park Gamestop store, 14460 Merced Ave, Unit 120, authorities said.
In the West Covina crime, three or four men armed with several handguns barged into the store about 6 p.m., West Covina police Sgt. Steve Wheeless said.
"It was a takeover," he said. Though the employees were not tied up, but, "They were moved from the sales portion of the store to a back room," the sergeant said.
The suspects then allegedly helped themselves to cash, video games and electronic equipment from the store, he said.
A citizen helped lead police to an abandoned suspect vehicle near the robbery scene, authorities said.
"It was some time later that a citizen called regarding a suspicious vehicle," he said.
The abandoned vehicle fit the description of the car used in the West Covina robbery and was found nearby, officials added.
Four people were detained in the area and arrested, Wheeless said. Todd and Stringer were ultimately identified as suspects in the robberies, while the other two were released.
A similar robbery was reported about four hours earlier at the other Gamestop location in Baldwin Park, Baldwin Park and West Covina police said.
In that crime, the same two men suspected in the West Covina robbery were identified as suspects in a similar takeover-style robber at the Baldwin Park Gamestop location, Baldwin Park police Sgt. Kevin Gauthier said.
At least one other unidentified robber was believed to be involved in the Baldwin Park crime, as well as two other people who were seen in the getaway vehicle, Gauthier said.
Authorities allege Todd and Stringer are members of the "Swans" street gang, which is affiliated with the Los Angeles gang, the "Bloods".
According to sheriff's booking records, Todd and Stringer were being held in lieu of $100,000 each.
They were scheduled to enter pleas at an arraignment in West Covina Superior Court Friday, however the hearing was delayed until Sept. 28, court officials said.