Five robbery suspects were arrested this week and are being investigated for possible connections to a recent string of armed robberies in Long Beach.
Long Beach Police Department first arrested two suspects in connection with two December 11 armed robberies, one of which occurred in the 1700 block of East Second Street and another in the area around 4th Street and Rose Avenue. Police said that in both incidents, the victims were approached by an armed suspect and told to surrender their cell phones and money.
The suspects are being described only as a male Los Angeles resident and a male Bellflower resident. The cases are still under investigation.
Three more arrests were made on the morning of December 12 by Long Beach Gang Enforcement detectives, who apprehended the juveniles in connection with multiple November robberies that occurred in the 3900 block of East Broadway and for one robbery that occurred in the area of Division and La Verne.
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Search warrants granted after the arrests resulted in the recovery of jewelry, cell phones and additional evidence.
The arrests come after an increase in reported robberies in the area throughout the last few weeks. The increase prompted robbery detectives to develop a strategy that police say relies on resident participation and increased patrols. The plan was put into in effect in conjunction with East Patrol, West Patrol and the Gang and Violent Crime Divisions.
Police say that detectives are investigating if those arrested were involved with robberies that occurred in the area south of 5th Street and east of Alamitos Avenue throughout the past few weeks. Police say that in those incidents, victims were approached while distracted, shown a handgun and told to surrender their phones. The perpetrators would then flee the scene.
The suspects have been described as African American males in their teens to mid-twenties. Police are not sure if the handguns displayed were real or replicas.