3 Suspects Are Sought in 4 N. County Armed Heists

Authorities searched Thursday for three armed robbers who struck four times in three North County cities, stealing a car, robbing a woman at an automated bank teller, knocking a motel employee unconscious and making off with about $100.

A dark-colored Chevrolet Blazer was reported seen at all four locations Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

“We think (the robberies) are related,” La Habra police spokeswoman Cindy Knapp said.

The first incident occurred about 8 p.m. when a 36-year-old woman drove to a First Interstate Bank automated teller machine at the intersection of Imperial Highway and Beach Boulevard in La Habra to check her account balance.

When the woman finished, she walked back to her car, noticing two men standing by a Blazer. As she entered the car, one of them approached, pulled out a semiautomatic weapon and demanded cash.

One of the men grabbed her wallet, which contained no cash, and the two fled the scene, Knapp said.

At 11:35 p.m., an unidentified victim was washing his car at a do-it-yourself service on West Lincoln Avenue when a dark gray Blazer pulled up, Anaheim Police Sgt. Chet Barry said.

Two men got out of the truck, walked over to the victim and asked for a light. But when the victim pulled out a lighter, one of the men pulled a handgun, Barry said.

They ordered the victim to turn over his car keys and his wallet, containing $65 in cash, Barry said.

Shortly after midnight, a custodian was walking to his 1978 Pontiac Grand Prix near Chapman Avenue and Buaro Street in Garden Grove when he was approached by two men, one of whom pulled out a semiautomatic handgun and demanded the victim’s wallet and car keys.

After the victim complied, the armed man tossed the keys to his partner, who drove off in the victim’s car. The car has not been recovered, Garden Grove Police Lt. John Woods said.

Then at 1:34 a.m., an employee of the Sandman Motel in Garden Grove was walking to his car when a dark Blazer containing three men pulled into the parking lot on Garden Grove Boulevard. After one of the bandits took the victim’s wallet and car keys, he struck the employee on the head, knocking him out, Woods said.

Police described one of the suspects as in his mid-teens, about 5-foot-2, 130 pounds, with extremely short hair, and wearing a three-quarter-length dark jacket. The second suspect was described as about 6 feet and 140 pounds, with longish hair, wearing a hair net and a black satin sports jacket with white and silver lettering. Both men are black, police said.

There was no description available of the third suspect, who police said may have remained in the car in all four heists.