Crime roundup: Reward offered in $1 million heist, woman shot in Pasadena…

Staff Writer Ruby Gonzales had a busy evening on the night crime desk:

SOUTH EL MONTE — Sheriff’s officials announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects in a July 7 South El Monte robbery and to the recovery of the more than $1 million stolen.
The reward is being offered in conjunction with Lloyds of London. The payment will be in proportion to the amount of money recovered.
Investigators believe the robbers were familiar with the operation and floor plan of Commonwealth International Inc.
The company at 12356 Barringer St. stores cash to be distributed to ATMs throughout the region.
The robbery took place just after 7 p.m. on July 7. Detectives said an unknown number of armed suspects forced their way through the ceiling, slid down a rope and surprised the employees.
Deputies said the employees were blindfolded.
After taking control of the business, the suspects loaded the money into a waiting vehicle, according to Sheriff’s Lt. Chris Brackpool.
He said there is no security video of the robbery because the suspects also stole the video recording device.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau at 562-946-7893.

PASADENA — A woman was wounded when shooting broke out at a neighborhood Wednesday afternoon.
Pasadena police said the woman, who was shot in the knee, may not have been the intended target. The shooter eluded capture.
Lt. Pete Hettema said callers reported shots being fired on Dearborn Street, east of Summit Avenue at 4:45 p.m.
Police were also told that someone may have been injured at the scene.
Hettema said witnesses heard an argument before the incident. But police aren’t sure if the dispute was related to the shooting and haven’t pinned down who were arguing, according to the lieutenant.
Police closed down the block and searched for the suspect. He wasn’t found.
Hettema said the woman was taken to a hospital with an injury that wasn’t life-threatening.
The suspect was only described as a Latino in his 20s wearing a black shirt and black shorts.

PICO RIVERA — A pedestrian was accosted by an armed man Wednesday who took his cellphone and headphones.
Sheriff’s Lt. Brian Yanagi said the victim was walking on Passons Boulevard near Holbrook Street when a man approached and pointed a gun at him.
Yanagi said the robber grabbed the phone and the headphones from the victim and ran.
The suspect was described as a Latino in his 20s, 5 feet 11 inches tall, about 160 pounds with short hair. He was wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt and black pants.

WEST COVINA — A man wearing a surgical mask, sunglasses and a beanie broke into a store display case and stole jewelry on Wednesday.
Police were told the jewelry was worth thousands.
The masked thief showed up at the Kmart at 3:45 p.m., took out a pair of bolt cutters and snipped the cable tying a jewelry display case, according to West Covina police Lt. Alan Henley.
After swiping the jewelry, the suspect walked out of the store at 730 S. Orange Avenue and was seen getting into a gray compact car.

ALHAMBRA — Police arrested two men and a woman plus recovered possible stolen property after pulling over a car seen at a burglary on Wednesday.
The suspects’ names, ages and city of residences weren’t available Wednesday night.
Alhambra police Sgt. Kean Oda said the investigation is ongoing. He added that detectives are also checking if the suspects are tied to other burglaries.
A residential burglary was reported about 1:30 p.m. in the 1100 block of Azalea Drive.
Oda said a witness gave descriptions of a suspect and a vehicle seen leaving the area.
An officer later spotted a vehicle matching the description of the getaway car on the westbound 10 Freeway. He pulled it over.
The vehicle stopped at Westmont Drive and Valley Boulevard and one of the passengers ran.
Police detained the remaining two occupants and later found their quarry near the 710 Freeway and Valley Boulevard.
Oda said officers also discovered what appear to be stolen items in the car.

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