Just in from Northeast Division: Robbery in Echo Park

This just came in from the Northeast Division E-Policing Newsletter, and it’s a little scary. Be careful out there!

On September 7th, 2010 at approximately 12:05 AM a street robbery occurred in the Echo Park area. The victim, a female, was walking near Laveta Terrace and Scott Avenue with a male friend. Two suspects appraoched on foot, one armed with a baseball bat. They demanded the victims property then struck the victims friend on the leg with the bat. The victim complied and surrendered her property. The suspects then fled the area by vehicle.

Approximately 50 minutes later near Ames Street and Ben Lomond in the Franklin Hills area, a lone male was walking home when he was approached by two suspects that were armed with baseball bats. The suspects demanded his property. When the victim refused and began to scream for help, he was struck on the head with the bat. The suspects fled on foot.

The suspects are described as being male hispanic, approximately 16 to 20 years of age and wearing dark colored hoodies. In one incident their vehicle was described as a white 4 door sedan, possibly a 1980’s model.

While both crimes occurred miles apart , they have a variety of similarities that have led us to believe that they were committed by the same suspects. The investigations continue, and at this time there is nothing that indicates that the victims were chosen based on sex, descent, race, or sexual preferance. It does appear that the most common factor is the location of each crime and time of day. Both areas were dark with little vehicle or foot traffic. It has not been determined if the incidents are gang related.

Anyone with any information on these two incidents is urged to contact the Northeast Robbery Detectives at ( 213) 485-2566 or after hours, the Northeast Watch Commander at (213) 485-2563. (DR#101119069 and 011119139)