Police Seek 4 Suspects in 2 Anaheim Carjackings

Police were searching late Saturday for at least four men who robbed two motorists of their cars at gunpoint within minutes of each other near the Riverside Freeway, officials said.

Because of the proximity and the brief time lapse of the incidents, police say they believe the carjackings were related and possibly connected to gang activity. None of the victims were injured.

“Looking at the call histories, my guess is that they are related,” Sgt. Mike Zigmund said. “One of the victims described the suspects as gang types, but we don’t know what experience they have in identifying gang members.”

In the first incident, a 1989 silver Acura was taken from the 5500 block of Santa Ana Canyon Road, near the Imperial Highway and Riverside Freeway interchange. It was reported to police at 5:34 p.m., Sgt. Thomas Lahmon said.

The carjackers “were driving the same kind of vehicle and color of the car that they stole,” he said.

A police radio broadcast alerting officers to the incidents stated that four males were involved in the first robbery and that a handgun was used.

Only six minutes later, authorities were called to investigate a second carjacking, which occurred on the Riverside Freeway off-ramp at Weir Canyon Road, just one exit east of Imperial Highway.

The gun-wielding robbers took a 1993 purple or maroon Lexus, which still bore the auto dealer’s tags, authorities said. The broadcast stated that a silver Acura Integra followed the stolen vehicle as it departed.

In both cases, Zigmund said, the carjackers fled west on the Riverside Freeway. He said it was unclear how the victims notified police.