Armed robbery crew arrested amid violent Los Angeles crime spree

A violent armed robbery crew that terrorized convenience store clerks in Los Angeles late last week has been taken down, authorities announced.  

The crime spree started on April 18 at around 1 a.m. and continued through 11 p.m. when officers with the Alhambra Police Department initiated a pursuit of the four-person robbery crew in a stolen blue Hyundai that was taken over by the Los Angeles Police Department as it entered the downtown area, officials said in a news release.  

Three of the suspects, now identified as 21-year-old Jacuri Tobias and two juvenile males, 15 and 17, were taken into custody.  

A fourth suspect remains outstanding, as well as the blue steel handgun with an extended magazine used in each of the five robberies, primarily targeting 7-Eleven stores.  

In video footage of the robberies released by LAPD detectives, the crew was seen pulling up to the stores in the stolen Hyundai. Three suspects would enter the store, one of them armed with the handgun and demanding cash from the register, while the others kept watch, and the driver stayed behind the wheel of the car.  

In one instance, a suspect was seen jumping over the counter while brandishing the gun, while the seemingly terrified clerk held his hands up.  

Investigators said five 7-Eleven stores were robbed — three in L.A., another in Pasadena and one in Baldwin Park.  

Authorities said there may be additional armed robberies that went unreported and are asking anyone who may have been a victim of the crew to contact investigators.  

Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to contact LAPD’s Rampart Division Robbery Det. Jose Hidalgo at 213-713-2932. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.org.