Robbers Wearing Painters Masks Targeting Retail Businesses Throughout Los Angeles, South Bay
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Police are searching for a pair of suspects responsible for at least six armed takeover robberies in Los Angeles, Gardena, Hawthorne and East LA.
The pair most recently struck a business in the 800 block of North Western Avenue on Feb. 17, Los Angeles police said. Their method of operation is to target retail businesses, like auto parts stores or a pharmacy, at around closing time and take cash from registers and safes and the personal property of store employees.
Both suspects cover their faces with painter's masks, ski masks or bandannas and wear gloves and are armed with handguns, police said. Witnesses have told officers about seeing them carrying a lunch bag as they enter the business.
One suspect is a black man about 30 to 40 years old, between 6 feet and 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing between 170 and 180 pounds, with a light mustache. The second suspect is described as a black or Hispanic man between 25 and 30 years old, also between 6 feet and 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 170 to 180 pounds, with a mustache, sideburns and a possible chin-strap beard.
