Takeover Robbery Was Well-Planned, Police Say

The takeover robbery of a computer components company was more sophisticated and costly than first estimated, police said Wednesday.

A gang of five or six gunmen burst into Anacapa Micro Products Inc. at 2259 Portola Road about 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, bound and blindfolded several employees and stole specialized computer chips, hard drives and computer boards valued at more than $500,000. An earlier company estimate only placed the value at more than $10,000.

“The suspects also executed their crime with a measured degree of sophistication and precision that indicated that they were part of a well-organized crew,” said Ventura Police Sgt. Bob Velez.

A company executive, who was one of the victims, said Tuesday the suspects asked for specific keys to locked cages where the most expensive materials were stored.

Company officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Police said as many as six male suspects, described as Asian, thinly-built and in their late teens or early 20s, remained at-large Wednesday. The group spoke English and Vietnamese during the 20-minute heist, and each was armed with either a 9-millimeter or .45-caliber handgun, police said.

During a scuffle with a suspect, one employee received minor bruises and abrasions. Based on blood found at the scene, authorities believe that suspect received a significant head injury.

A witness said the gunmen, some of whom wore surgical masks or sweaters over their faces, fled in a silver or light blue Toyota van, one of two vehicles used in robbery, according to Velez.

The holdup began when the gunmen overpowered an employee who was emptying trash outside the Ventura business, which is located in an industrial park near Ivy Lawn Memorial Park.

The gunmen systematically rounded up the eight employees who were working at the time and herded the group into an adjacent warehouse before blindfolding and tying up several of the employees with duct tape, according to Velez.

Several of the chips and boards that were stolen have a deep purple color, which is very distinctive, Velez said.

Last December, the FBI announced that theft and fraud involving high-tech equipment had increased 600% nationwide between 1994 and 1997.