Smartphones Taken by Group of Men in Seemingly-Similar Robberies

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

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INDUSTRY - Detectives are investigating two robberies that occurred March 8 in which a group of men took smartphones from their victims at gunpoint.

In both robberies, at least one suspect was armed with a handgun.

The first robbery occurred in La Puente in the 400 block of Mayland Avenue at 8:47 p.m. Possibly four to five males took a smartphone at gunpoint. The suspects fled in what was described as a dark colored vehicle. The smartphone was being tracked, but the suspects knew how to turn off the tracking feature, according to Lt. James Long of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Industry Station.

A second armed robbery occurred in Hacienda Heights at 9:17 p.m. The victim who was punched by at least one suspect, sought help at a nearby fire station, 2691 S. Turnbull Canyon Rd. One of the three suspects seen was armed. The suspects fled and a light-colored sedan, Long told SGV CityWatch.

Long was not entirely sure if a cell phone has been taken in the second robbery, but a Sheriff’s crime broadcast stated that a smartphone had been stolen.

It was not immediately clear if these two crimes were committed by the same group of men, Long told SGV CityWatch.