Passing Officer Foils Coffeehouse Robbery
An off-duty police officer spotted two masked men robbing Starbuck’s Coffee in Studio City on Tuesday night and then foiled the thieves’ attempt, police said.
Just before midnight, Officer Ramon Espinosa was walking near Starbuck’s in the 12100 block of Ventura Boulevard when he saw the men forcing customers and employees to the floor.
He quickly borrowed a cellular phone and called his home station--North Hollywood Division, according to Sgt. Christopher Vasquez.
While other officers were en route, the 38-year-old Espinosa gave chase and caught one of the suspects as the man fled.
With one suspect in custody, officers sealed off the area and used police dogs to sniff out the other man.
Police said Espinosa, a 15-year veteran of the department, also recovered an undisclosed amount of money taken in the robbery.
Vasquez said officers recovered two handguns used in the holdup.
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