INGLEWOOD : Man, Woman Held in String of Brutal Home Robberies

A man and woman were being held for questioning by Inglewood police Tuesday in connection with 11 violent residential robberies since May 5.

Inglewood Police Sgt. Bill Thompson said the crimes became increasingly brutal as they continued. Last weekend, he said, two women were raped and a man was shot in the arm during the robberies.

The male suspect was arrested Tuesday morning after a three-hour search of a neighborhood where he had fled on foot after his car crashed while police were attempting to stop him for questioning. The woman was arrested at a hotel where the two--whose identities were not released--had been under surveillance. A third suspect, Carlos Enriquez, 23, was being sought, police said.

“The crimes appear to be related in the sense that the methods of operation were very similar,” Thompson said. “They would strike late at night--knock on the door, the resident would open it, the suspects would force their way in at gunpoint and take jewelry, small amounts of cash and, often, the keys to the family car.”