Authorities are asking for the public’s help in identifying three ‘armed and dangerous’ suspects linked to 24 bank robberies across the Southland, including Long Beach, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) announced Friday.
The case is being investigated by the LAPD robbery homicide division in partnership with investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), Alhambra Police Department (APD), Pasadena Police Department (PPD), and Long Beach Police Department (LBPD).
Officials believe the series of bank robberies began in November 2015, with the most recent robbery happening in April 2016.
Law enforcement said they were “greatly concerned” that the level of aggression the suspects displayed increased with each bank robbery.
“The suspects enter the location and pass the teller a note,” according to an LAPD release. “They demand money and claim to be armed while threatening violence if their demands are not met. In recent robberies, the suspects have become increasingly brazen and have jumped over the teller’s counter.”
The suspects allegedly robbed a Long Beach bank on the 3900 block of Atlantic Avenue on Feb. 23, according to LBPD spokeswoman Marlene Arrona. A male suspect apparently fled with cash before officers arrived on scene, she said.
The suspects are described as black men, about 25 to 30 years old. Two suspects are between 5 feet, 7 inches to 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weigh 170 to 190 pounds. The third suspect is between 5 feet, 6 inches and 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 140 to 160 pounds. All the suspects are considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information is urged to call Robbery Homicide Division Detective Koman or Detective Geiger at 213.486.6890. After hours, please call 1.877.LAPD.24.7 (1.877.527.3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1.800.222.TIPS (800.222.8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S) on most keypads with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips.”
LBPD officials could not provide information regarding the Long Beach robberies as of Friday afternoon.
This story was updated at 11:46PM on Tuesday, May 24 with information on the Long beach robbery.