Robberies at Asian Eateries May Be Linked

Two robbers burst into a Thai restaurant Wednesday night, one of them shooting the only woman in the room in the face, in a crime that police believe may be connected to at least three other armed holdups at Asian eateries in the Valley in recent months.

“He walked right up to her and shot her,” Det. Marcella Winn of LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division said Thursday.

Sutima Sapayoketai, 34, a waitress at Charm Thai restaurant in the 13500 block of Ventura Boulevard, was in critical but stable condition Thursday at an area hospital, according to police and her family.

The suspects may be responsible for at least three other holdups at Asian restaurants on Ventura Boulevard, including one earlier Wednesday night at China Palace, in the 15400 block of Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks, said Lt. Jim Grayson of LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division.

At about 9:10 p.m. Wednesday, two gunmen entered China Palace, where they pistol-whipped an employee and threw another employee on the floor but caused no serious injuries, Grayson said. The robbers fled with an unspecified amount of money.

About half an hour later, police believe the same suspects entered Charm Thai, also on Ventura Boulevard, where they shot Sapayoketai and viciously beat others, Grayson said at a news conference Thursday at Parker Center.

Sapayoketai, best known by her nickname, “Cherry,” had been a waitress for only three or four months, said her cousin and owner of Charm Thai, Sam Chareon, in an interview at his home Thursday.

About 15 minutes before Charm Thai’s 10 p.m. closing, Sapayoketai went to the back of the restaurant to take out some trash and noticed two men loitering, employees told Chareon. She returned through the restaurant’s back door to tell co-workers about the men, not realizing that the pair had followed her inside.

One of the men then shot her, Chareon said.

The gunmen ordered a male employee to open the cash register, and when he could not get the money out, he was hit in the face with a gun. Another employee was hit hard in the shoulder, Chareon said.

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The robbers eventually fled with the entire cash register, which contained about $200 or $300, Chareon said. “They can take the money. Why did they have to shoot her? She don’t do nothing,” said Chareon, with tears in his eyes.

“Why did they shoot the woman? There were five guys in there, but they shot the woman,” he continued. “It’s sad and horrible.”

On Sept. 1, two men robbed Kasu Sushi, in the 11400 block of Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, and on Oct. 28, Makoto Restaurant, in the 17900 block of Ventura in Encino, was also robbed, Grayson said.

Witnesses in all four cases described the robbers as African American men, between 30 and 35, police said. One suspect is described as standing about 5-feet-5 to 5-feet-8 and weighing about 130 to 140 pounds. The other suspect was described as taller and thin, about 6-feet-4 or 6-feet-5 and about 150 or 160 pounds.

The taller robber was especially brutal to his victims, witnesses told police.

“Everybody said he’s extremely vicious. He walks in shooting and pistol-whipping people. If they’re on the floor, he kicks them,” said Grayson, adding that the man also threatened to kill people.

Two other robbers with different physical descriptions are believed to be responsible for at least seven attacks at Westside businesses since May, most of them also at Asian restaurants, Grayson said.

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The second pair of robbers operated in a similar way, Grayson said. Armed with handguns, they entered restaurants just before closing and beat victims before fleeing with cash. But witnesses described the Westside suspects as African American men somewhat younger than the Valley robbers. One suspect, about 25 to 30 years old, stands about 6 feet tall and weighs about 180 to 190 pounds, according to witnesses. The other robber, about 18 to 25 years old, is about 5-feet-9 to 5-feet-11 and between 150 and 160 pounds.

Charm Thai remained closed Thursday, and Chareon said he didn’t know when his family would reopen. China Palace has resumed business.

Police are asking anyone with information about the crimes to call the Robbery-Homicide Division at (213) 485-2511 during business hours, or (213) 485-3261 after hours or on weekends.

Liu is a Times staff writer. Fox is a correspondent.

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Valley Restaurant Attacks

Police say the men who held up a Thai restaurant Wednesday may be responsible for

three other robberies at Asian restaurants along Ventura Boulevard.

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1. Nov. 3: China Palace, 15466 Ventura Blvd.

2. Nov. 3: Charm Thai, 13539 Ventura Blvd.

3. Oct 28: Makoto, 17920 Ventura Blvd.

4. Sept 1: Kasu Sushi, 11440 Ventura Blvd.