Teen Arrested in Robberies of Illegal Aliens

A teen-ager was in custody Saturday after three separate incidents in which gun-wielding bandits robbed a total of 25 Mexican nationals who had just crossed the border illegally, officials said.

Two bandits kicked several of the victims in the face and ribs, but none was seriously injured in the robberies Friday in Dennery Canyon, two miles north of the border, said San Diego Police spokesman Bill Robinson.

U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested the youth, who was not identified because of his age, late Friday. The native of Sinaloa, Mexico, was booked into Juvenile Hall in San Diego on 11 counts of armed robbery, Robinson said.

Identified by Victims

The youth had a box of watches and .22-caliber bullets when arrested and later was identified by some of the victims, Robinson said.

Authorities were searching for his partner and suspected the two were responsible for all three robberies.

Two armed men jumped out of the bushes in the remote area about 1 a.m. Friday and robbed 14 victims of $205, Robinson said.

“They made them lie on their faces and remove their shoes because many times they hide their money in their shoes,” he said.

Two men held up eight more people about 9:30 p.m. Friday, taking nine wristwatches and $2,200. About 30 minutes later, three more victims were relieved of watches and $300.