Suspects Sought After 7-Eleven Robbery Attempt
Courtesy LAPD
Surveillance video from a failed armed robbery attempt at the 7th & Olive 7-Eleven store shows the suspect that LAPD is hoping to find.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — |VIDEO| Police detectives are asking the public for help in finding two men who early this morning tried to rob the 7-Eleven convenience store at 7th and Olive.
Dramatic surveillance video shows the tense scene that took place just after midnight, when a man armed with a rifle entered the store and demanded that the clerk open the register, threatening "blow [his] ******* brains out." The robber eventually left empty handed when the clerk was unable to comply. LAPD ground and air units searched the area but were unable to find the suspect or his lookout.
“We want everyone to look closely at the video and consider the suspect’s clothing description,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, who heads up Central Division detectives. “It’s distinct enough that it might be familiar to someone who knows this robber. Just put yourself in this clerk’s place and imagine how scary this must have been.”
Vernon describes the suspect as between 20 and 30 years old, 5’10”, with a 3 to 4-day growth of beard. He was wearing a black night-watch cap, a brown-and-white striped shirt; and orange long sleeves. The lookout is described as a black man, 5’6”, in his 20’s, dressed in dark clothing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Central robbery detective John Arredondo at (213) 972-1248. Callers can also phone the 24-hour number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247).
Video contains explicit language.
dtla on January 18, 2010, at 07:46PM – #1
This is so scary- most people had today off, so that area was actually a bit crowded last night- as many people were at Bottega and Seven Grand. The clerk is LUCKY to be alive.
rob on January 18, 2010, at 09:12PM – #2
wow that is really scary, the clerk is lucky he wasn't shot
Corey on January 18, 2010, at 10:53PM – #3
I hate that 7-11. See? It takes forever to buy something there, they don't even know how to open the registers!
Birthday Boy on January 18, 2010, at 11:14PM – #4
I was in 7 Grand and planning to buy bugels there on my way to the golden gopher and instead the cops wouldn't let us leave the bar until 2am.
HD on January 18, 2010, at 11:30PM – #5
Great quality video. Usually security cameras don't record sound, aren't in color and aren't this high resolution. This one will result in a conviction once LAPD finds this moron.
Mrs. S on January 19, 2010, at 10:40AM – #6
I have sent this link to all of the downtown residents I know, and including out building office, so they can spread it around. If you have the chance to do the same, that would be great. The thing I love about downtown is there is a sense of community. We can make a difference of enough eyes are watching.
A good exampple is the txt number/ call number for animals being illegally sold/abused that we now have downtown.
Thank you Downtown Bloggers.
Steve on January 19, 2010, at 12:09PM – #7
Very scary. Hopefully the police get this nut off the streets soon.
Rich Jesmer on January 19, 2010, at 01:13PM – #8
Somebody didn't say please...
redman on January 19, 2010, at 01:18PM – #9
sweet, this is the kind of stuff i need to expect when i move downtown
Ravi on January 19, 2010, at 02:29PM – #10
Eric - great post. I'm glad you and this blog have access to information such as this. As awful and horrible as this act is - I'm glad the community has some quality data instead of the old fashioned sketches or verbal memories taken from a shaken victim. These economic times are bad. Really really bad.
JM on January 19, 2010, at 03:13PM – #11
The problem at 7-Eleven stores is that there's ALWAYS someone lurking around the entrance asking for something or selling something. This doesn't make for good security. I always feel on edge at these stores. Poor employee. Bad night for him. Hardly representative of Downtown living, but, as we grow and add amenities and stores, we need to be prepared for this kind of thing. Happens in the burbs all the time.
Veronica M. on January 20, 2010, at 08:43AM – #12
JM writes: "...we need to be prepared for this kind of thing. Happens in the burbs all the time."
Exactly! Tiffanys in Century City was held up last night by 3 armed & masked gunmen. We should all be preped for anything
Jasmijn on January 20, 2010, at 05:13PM – #13
I hope the clerk has got over the horrible experience and can go on. Poor man!
Hooray for forums like this to circulate this information, and awful though this experience is, I'm so glad to be living somewhere where this isn't the norm . . . unlike, say, the Valley. (LOL @ Century City Tiffany's, Veronica! I guess this means DTLA has "arrived" socially now!)
Dan on January 20, 2010, at 06:39PM – #14
I think people assume that it's the 7-11 that attracts this crowd when in fact it's the hours that attract this crowd. Any establishment that wants to stay open past 11PM should require a doorman or security guard on hand in Los Angeles. That includes bars and restaurants.