1 Suspect Held, 2nd Escapes in Robbery at Fox Hills Mall

One man was arrested Friday after a bungled robbery attempt at the Robinsons-May department store in the Fox Hills Mall in Culver City. A female accomplice hiding inside the store escaped as police searched the building for nearly six hours, authorities said.

The mall was closed after the 7:30 a.m. incident, during which two employees were bound by the robbers. One worker escaped on his own, and the other untied herself and hid in a room until she was freed by a sheriff’s SWAT team, police said. Both were unharmed.

Police said they were unsure how the second robber was able to evade 20 sheriff’s deputies. All parking lot entrances were guarded throughout the day by the Culver City Police Department, California Highway Patrol officers and mall security guards.

The suspect in custody was described as a Los Angeles resident in his mid-20s. Police did not release his name Friday. He was charged with armed robbery but could also face kidnapping charges, police said.

Police, who recovered the money, called off the search at 3:50 p.m. Authorities had not determined whether they would reopen the mall Friday.