Two Teens Arrested After Armed Robberies

Sheriff’s officials said Tuesday they have arrested two juveniles in connection with four armed robberies and other crimes across south Orange County this month.

The two 17-year-old boys are suspected of robbing three gas stations in Aliso Viejo and a pizza restaurant in Laguna Woods between Dec. 3 and Dec. 12, sheriff’s spokesman Steve Doan said.

Investigators identified the pair after distributing a composite sketch of the robbers to local high schools. A school resource deputy assigned to Aliso Niguel High School recognized one of the suspects as a student.

Officials at the school then scoured the parking lot and matched a car driven by the student to a description of the getaway vehicle in the first robbery, Doan said.

“The deputies couldn’t have done it without the help of school officials,” he said.

Undercover deputies monitored the student suspect and watched him and a friend steal a car from Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo, Doan said.

A search warrant executed at the student’s home recovered a replica handgun used in the robberies and other possessions linking the pair to unrelated crimes, investigators said.

Deputies believe the teens are also responsible for at least two burglaries in Aliso Viejo and San Clemente and two car thefts, Doan said.

The two boys were arrested Friday and booked into juvenile hall on suspicion of armed robbery, vehicle theft, possessing stolen property and burglary.

A third person, Marco Antonio Iribarne, 21, of Aliso Viejo, was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property from the teens and of vehicle theft.