4 Held After Caller Reports Robbery on Westminster Street

An alert neighbor and quick action by police interrupted an armed robbery Wednesday night, leading to the arrest of four suspects, police said.

“The robbery began at 11:25 p.m., we got the call at 11:26, and at 11:27 we had three men in custody,” Westminster Police Lt. Mike Schliskey said. “It even surprised me, knowing how busy we are around midnight, that we could get officers out there that fast.”

The robbery victims, two Westminster residents in their 20s, were working on a car in the 6600 block of Ginger Lane when they were accosted by four people, one brandishing a handgun, Schliskey said.

The victims turned over their wallets to the robbers, but “someone just saw what was happening and called it in,” Schliskey said.

Officers arrived immediately and arrested three suspects, he said. One suspect got away, but he was arrested about 7:10 a.m. Thursday.

Officers have found at least one of the wallets, Schliskey said.

Arrested on suspicion of robbery were Jorge Camen Mendoza, 23, of Westminster and three juveniles, ages 14 to 16. Two of the juveniles are from Westminster and one is from Huntington Beach.