2 Armed Robbers Take Over Burbank Restaurant

Two thieves armed with an assault rifle took over a Burbank restaurant early Friday in what police described as the latest in a string of robberies in which they order patrons and employees to the floor, methodically empty victims’ pockets and the cash register, and calmly walk away.

The unidentified robbers are also believed to have been responsible for the Nov. 27, 1991, killing of a restaurant musician who was shot in the head after he hesitated to surrender his money and watch, Burbank and Los Angeles detectives said Friday.

In all the robberies, the thieves struck about closing time and carried guns, said Los Angeles Detective Mike Sullivan of the North Hollywood Division.

Sullivan said the same pattern has emerged in seven or eight recent cases in the San Fernando Valley, including robberies at the White Horse Inn in Northridge, Reuben’s restaurant in Northridge, and Casey’s Tavern in Canoga Park.

It was during the robbery at the Grecian Village restaurant in Studio City that 33-year-old drummer Vartan Mouradian of Studio City was killed.

In Burbank on Friday, two men entered the Cinnamon Cinder Bar in the 4300 block of West Magnolia Boulevard about 1:30 a.m. and ordered one employee and three customers to lie on the floor, said Burbank Police Lt. Larry Koch.

They stole an undisclosed amount of cash and demanded a patron’s car keys.

There were no injuries and the stolen car was found a few blocks away about two hours later, Koch said.