5 Arrested in Simi Racist Crimes

Five teen-agers have been arrested in connection with a crime rampage in Simi Valley in which an Asian liquor store employee was robbed and assaulted and houses were vandalized with spray-painted white supremacist slogans, the Simi Valley Police Department reported Thursday.

One of the youths, a 16-year-old Northridge girl, surrendered to Ventura County juvenile authorities Nov. 22, and four 16-year-old boys were arrested Thursday, Lt. Bob Robbins said.

The youths are accused of robbing the Simi Liquor store on Erringer Road of a 12-pack of beer Nov. 10 and assaulting an employee, Robbins said.

Later that night at least two of the youths spray-painted swastikas and slogans including “skinheads” and “white power” on four residences, a number of sidewalks and a vehicle, causing about $1,000 in damage, Robbins said.

The girl, charged with robbery and assault, told authorities she has white supremacist sympathies, Robbins said.

The boys, who called themselves skinheads, live in Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo and Canyon Country and were being held at Ventura County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of robbery and assault, and two were also facing vandalism charges, Robbins said.