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Authorities Say Robbery Suspect Impersonated a Police Officer

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From a Times Staff Writer

Thousand Oaks deputies are seeking an arrest warrant for a man they say impersonated a police officer and robbed at least two people of their wallets.

The suspect is an Italian national identified as Salvatore Russarollo, 26. He is in custody in Sacramento for alleged immigration violations. Thousand Oaks authorities hope to arrest him on suspicion of grand theft and impersonating a police officer.

Deputies said a man drove up to Efrain Gonzalezz and Gabriel Hernandez, both of Thousand Oaks, at the Janss Market Place last month and flashed a credential identifying him as a police officer. Deputies said he demanded to see identification. When the men opened their wallets, he took them and drove off.

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Deputies said he got away with $1,000.

Detective Pete O’Sullivan said the suspect may be part of an Italian ring that has robbed people around the state. Police in San Jose and San Mateo want to talk to Russarollo about similar crimes.

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