3 Men Sought in Kidnap and Robbery of Dealership Manager After Test Ride
Three men posing as customers at a car dealership stole a used Buick and kidnapped the store’s manager at gunpoint Friday, taking him to his Canoga Park home, which they promptly robbed, police said.
The men arrived at Family Auto Mart about 7 p.m. and went for a test drive in a burgundy 1991 Buick Regal, said Lt. Tom Smart of the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Valley division. When they returned to the dealership at 18900 Sherman Way, he said, they overpowered the manager and another employee and tied them up.
Neither victim was seriously hurt, Smart said, but the robbers forced the manager into the Buick and drove to his Canoga Park home. They then ransacked the house, leaving the manager behind with his wrists bound by handcuffs, he said.
“It’s very unusual,” Smart said. “It appeared to be well thought out.”
The other employee called police about 7:45 p.m., Sharp said. About 20 minutes later, the manager also called to report the crime.
Police were searching Friday night for the men, last seen in the Buick, which had dealer’s license plates.
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