Loose Lobster Betrays 2 Robbers, Police Say

Two thieves escaped with 75 pounds of shrimp and lobster early Saturday after robbing a Red Lobster restaurant in Valencia--only to have their apparent appetites betray them to California Highway Patrol officers who noticed a lobster on the floorboard of their car, authorities said.

Two cases of liquor and $3,000 in cash were among the goods stolen at gunpoint, said Jeff McMackin, the restaurant’s general manager, and the California Highway Patrol.

“They were hungry and thirsty,” said McMackin, who estimated the value of the frozen seafood at “a couple thousand dollars.”

The arrested men were identified as Randy Thomas Lastrapes, 31, and Raymond Anthony Hennessee, 38, both of Inglewood. They were held on suspicion of armed robbery and are expected to be arraigned Monday in Newhall Municipal Court.

According to McMackin and a CHP report, the suspects arrived at the restaurant at 27524 The Old Road about 1:15 a.m., after it had closed for the night. They forced a manager to open the back door by holding a waiter at gunpoint.

After raiding the restaurant’s petty cash safe, they filled a 25-gallon trash bin with ice, a variety of liquor and shrimp, whole lobsters and lobster tails, authorities said.

The suspects were arrested within an hour after they were stopped on suspicion of drunk driving and speeding.

Officers Janet Swearingen and Michelle Fink then noticed a handgun on the floorboard of their Toyota, according to the CHP report.

One suspect was already arrested and the second was being questioned when the patrol car radio described the restaurant robbery and the men.

“Officers immediately notified dispatch that both suspects were in custody as a lobster and a knife were also found on the floorboard,” the CHP report said.