LOCAL : Three Gunmen Rob Van Nuys Builder’s Emporium of $10,000

Police were searching today for three gunman who entered a Van Nuys home improvement store near closing Monday night, forced employees into a back office and stole about $10,000 in cash. Police said they believe that the three are the same men who robbed a Woodland Hills store last week.

The three entered Builder’s Emporium, 17643 Sherman Way, about 9 p.m., just as six employees were preparing to close, Los Angeles Police Detective Bob Johansen said. One gunman demanded cash in one register and then emptied the store’s three other registers himself, Johansen said.

The gunman then ushered the six employees and one customer to the rear office, where the two other gunmen were waiting. The three ordered the manager to open the store’s safe. After two gunmen herded the others to the front of the store, the first gunmen took the money from the manager. The three gunmen escaped on foot, Johansen said.

The three men also took a trash can and a screwdriver, Johansen said.

Police believe that the three robbed the Target store at 20801 Ventura Blvd. of $10,000 in cash, jewelry and credit card invoices as store employees were preparing to close about 8:30 p.m. Aug. 22, Johansen said.

In the robberies, witnesses’ descriptions of the three men, the guns and the method of forcing employees around the store were similar, Johansen said.