ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST >> Two men robbed a man and women of their digital cameras at gunpoint along a forest road north of Azusa late Thursday, officials said.
The victims flagged down a deputy to seek help following the crime, which took place about 7:20 p.m. near mile marker 19.75 of San Gabriel Canyon Road.
They were sitting in their car when two suspects approached and demanded their property, the sergeant said. One of the robbers brandished a black handgun, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Louie Serrano said.
Serrano said the victims turned over a wallet and some camera equipment. The robbers got into a light blue, four-door Honda sedan with an unknown license plate and headed south down San Gabriel Canyon Road. They shouted out what was believed to be the name of a street gang as they fled.
Deputies described the robbers as two Latino men in their early-20s, both about 5 feet 6 inches tall. One was about 120 pounds, wearing a gray hooded sweat shirt and black gloves. The other was about 130 pounds, wearing a blue-and-gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.
At least five additional robberies, including one in which a victim was shot, have been reported along the scenic mountain roads just north of the San Gabriel Valley in recent months.
• A man was robbed and shot in the leg about 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 3 along East Fork Road
• A man and woman sitting in a parked car were robbed by two men who claimed to be armed about 10 p.m. on Nov. 2 at mile marker 19 of San Gabriel Canyon Road
• A woman taking photographs from the roadside was beaten and robbed by two men about 11 a.m. on May 28 near mile marker 19 of San Gabriel Canyon Road
• Two men armed with a shotgun robbed a man and woman as they sat in a vehicle near mile marker 23 of San Gabriel Canyon Road about 3:30 a.m. on April 15.
• Two good Samaritans who stopped to check on a vehicle in a ditch were robbed by two men with handguns about 12:10 a.m. on April 11
Additionally, deputies arrested two suspects who allegedly donned masks and brandished weapons as they terrorized a couple parked along Glendora Mountain Road about 11:20 p.m. on Sept. 30. No property was stolen in the incident, which was believed to have been a prank filmed for the purpose of posting on the internet.
The robberies on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 were believed to be linked, sheriff’s officials said. It was unclear if any of the other robberies were also connected.
Anyone with information on any of the crimes an reach the sheriff’s San Dimas Station at 909-450-2700. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.