Four arrested in police stakeout
MEDIA DISTRICT WEST - A courier’s hunch that she might be robbed a
second time as she serviced automated teller machines in Burbank led to
the arrest of four Los Angeles residents Friday on suspicion of
conspiracy to commit armed robbery, police said.
Eric Hall, 28, Burt Carter, 27, and two boys, ages 16 and 17, were
arrested around 7:30 a.m. near the 3800 block of West Alameda Avenue
after a brief pursuit by officers, said Burbank Police Lt. Don Brown. An
additional suspect is still at large, he said.
The four, whom Brown called violent individuals, were arrested after
undercover officers began surveillance of the Vista Credit Union ATM
machine at 3800 W. Alameda Ave. early Friday, Brown said.
The officers were watching the building after an ATM courier - who was
robbed of $40,000 at the same machine on Oct. 8 - contacted police on
Thursday to report that she thought she was being followed.
“She had a feeling that she would be hit again somewhere on her
route,” Brown said.
Police, who believe the four are connected with the October robbery,
said the woman was right on target.
On Friday, the two adults and two teenagers were arrested after the
undercover officers noticed two suspicious cars - one of which was
reported stolen in Los Angeles - outside the building. Marked patrol cars
attempted to make traffic stops but the drivers of both cars - a
Chevrolet Suburban and Jeep Cherokee - sped away. They were stopped near
by, Brown said.
Police said they found three loaded handguns including a 9 mm Glock
with its serial numbers filed off inside the Jeep.
The two boys who were driving the stolen Jeep were caught when they
crashed into another car on Riverside Drive, Brown said. A third suspect
in the Jeep eluded officers when he ran across both sides of the Ventura
(134) Freeway, Brown said.
Carter and Hall were arrested after they stopped the Suburban and
attempted to flee on foot, Brown said. They were being held Friday in
Burbank City Jail. Carter’s bail was set at $35,000 and Hall’s bail was
set at $500,000. They are scheduled to be arraigned in Burbank Municipal
Court on Tuesday, a city jailer said.
Burbank Police were unable to say Friday whether the two boys were
released to their parents or were being held in a county juvenile
facility.