Robbery, Beating Suspects’ Paths Crossed on the Beach

They came from all over--Oklahoma, Missouri, New Jersey, even Norway. And until their arrest last week, the five transient young men whom police blame for a succession of robberies and burglaries had been camping out on the beach in Santa Monica for about a month.

How their paths crossed is unknown. “The preliminary information indicates they met on the beach and became partners in crime,” Santa Monica Police Sgt. Gary Gallinot said.

Gallinot said police believe the men committed about half a dozen robberies and burglaries during their first two weeks in the area. Police also believe they were responsible for the beating and stabbing of ABC television reporter Gary Shepard last weekend at his Malibu home.

“Investigators will be going back over the last month to see if anything else fits,” Gallinot said.

Police identified the men as Tore Larveck, 19; John Girou, 18; Charles Hicks, 25; Larry Morris, 30, and Andrew Winder, 23.

They were arrested Wednesday when they tried to sell some stolen goods to an undercover police officer at the beach. Among the goods recovered were some items taken from Shepard’s house and his car, an ’87 Toyota, police said.

Gallinot said police had received information that several homeless men were trying to sell stolen goods. The five men were booked on suspicion of attempted murder, robbery, burglary, auto theft and conspiracy.

Among the crimes that police have attributed to the five men was an assault and robbery of a German couple at an Ocean Avenue motel in late October. Gallinot said they forced their way into the room of the two tourists, assaulted them, and took their airplane tickets, money and personal items. The couple suffered minor injuries.

The attack on Shepard occurred Sunday night or Monday. The veteran newsman was alone in his isolated Malibu hilltop home when the five men entered, apparently intent on robbery, Gallinot said.

Shepard, 53, was stabbed and beaten, and his injuries included a fractured skull. He was reported in good condition late last week at Santa Monica Medical Center after undergoing surgery for the fracture, a hospital spokesman said.

Shepard, who was not granting interviews, still does not remember what happened at his home, the spokesman said.

“This has probably been the most violent group we’ve dealt with,” Gallinot said.