Man, Woman Arrested in Robbery of Kmart

A man and woman suspected of robbing a Kmart in South-Central Los Angeles were arrested Monday morning after a brief chase, police said.

LAPD Det. Guy Bourgeois said the robbery occurred at 9:30 a.m. when a man and woman wearing ski masks entered the Kmart at 5850 S. Vermont Ave. and forced the store manager at gunpoint to a back room where the store’s safe is located.

After tripping an alarm, the robbers ran to the front parking lot, carrying a bag of money. The bag, filled with a packet containing red dye, exploded within 30 feet of the manager’s office, covering the robbers’ clothing in red, Bourgeois said.

Only the man made it to the getaway car. The woman tripped and was caught just outside the store by employees, who recovered the bag of money.

Bourgeois said the male robber and at least one other man drove up in a burgundy Toyota Corolla and demanded that the employees let the woman go. They did and she got into the car, which sped away.

Bourgeois said the car was seen a short while later by police helicopters. After a brief chase, the car was stopped by police at 65th Place and 5th Avenue.

The man and woman were arrested, but at least one other occupant in the car managed to escape, Bourgeois said.