Robbers Tailing Cars Strike 2 More Times

Bandits believed linked to a series of robberies in which $280,000 in jewelry, furs and cash has been taken from drivers of luxury cars struck in Encino and Bel-Air on the same night and fired several shots at one victim as she fled, Los Angeles police said Friday.

No one was injured in the two incidents Thursday night.

About $38,000 in cash and valuables was taken from three people in Bel-Air in one of the incidents, which police said brings to 28 the number of “follow-home” robberies in the San Fernando Valley and West Los Angeles since mid-October.

In the other incident, a 33-year-old Encino woman foiled a robbery attempt by speeding away in her Mercedes-Benz amid a hail of gunfire.

In the robberies, the bandits have followed expensive cars, usually Mercedes-Benzes, and have confronted their drivers after they parked at home, police said. Most of the victims have been women who were driving alone in affluent hillside areas of the Valley.

Shots Fired Twice

Although all the victims were robbed at gunpoint, only twice since October have shots been fired, police said.

“These guys are showing they are potentially very, very dangerous,” Detective Steven Hooks said.

The robbers, who police believe are linked but are operating in at least three groups, have struck five times since Monday, police said.

Thursday night’s incidents occurred within 40 minutes of each other, police said. Investigators said they believe, based on victims’ descriptions, that separate two-man teams were responsible.

The first incident occurred at 9:30 p.m. when the Encino woman drove into the garage of her home in the 15700 block of Greenleaf Street, police said. Before she could stop the engine, she was confronted by a man with a gun, investigators said.

“She threw the car into reverse and backed out, at which time several shots were fired by the suspect,” Hooks said.

Shots Missed Car

The woman’s car struck another car parked in the street, but she was able to speed away as the gunman fired several more shots at her, Hooks said. None of the shots hit the car, police said.

Hooks said neighbors, who looked outside their homes after hearing the gunfire, saw the assailant jump into the passenger seat of a light-blue Merkur and speed away. Police said the same car is believed to have been used in several of the robberies.

A light-blue Merkur was involved in a brief chase Wednesday in which it eluded a patrol car on Beverly Glen Boulevard south of Ventura Boulevard--near where five of the robberies took place, police said.

About 40 minutes after the robbery attempt Thursday, a husband and wife and an elderly woman were robbed at gunpoint after they got out of a Mercedes-Benz in front of a home in the 2000 block of Angelo Drive in Bel-Air, Detective Robert Tapia said.

The robber had gotten out of the passenger side of a yellow or green car that pulled in behind the victims, Tapia said. Jewelry, furs and cash were taken from the victims, police said.

Eight of the “follow-home” robberies have occurred in the West Los Angeles area.

The Valley robberies have occurred from Sherman Oaks to Woodland Hills, with 12 in Encino, police said.

Only one victim has been injured in the robberies.

On Dec. 4, a man was shot at the door of his Bel-Air home after he tried to run from two robbers, police said. He is recovering from his injuries, police said.