By Mary O’KEEFE

Two robberies involving weapons occurred recently in La Cañada Flintridge in the early morning hours.

The first incident occurred Monday at 2:25 a.m. A man was cleaning trashcans outside the location in the 400 block of Foothill Boulevard. The man reported that two men entered the plaza where he was working. As they walked toward him the first suspect took out a gun and pointed it to his temple. The second suspect also had a gun and pointed it at the back of his, the victim’s, head. The suspects demanded money; however, the victim said he did not have any money. The victim gave the second suspect the keys to his vehicle. While the second suspect rummaged through the vehicle the first suspect continued to hold a gun to the victim’s head. The first suspect took the victim’s wallet out of his back pocket, and when the second suspect returned he took the victim’s iPhone out of another pocket. Both suspects then ran westbound toward Gould Avenue and got into an early 2000s dark colored four-door Toyota and sped toward the westbound entrance on the Foothill (210) Freeway and out of sight.

The first suspect was described as black, in his 20s, 5’8” tall weighing 160 pounds. At the time he was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt over his head and dark shorts. The second man was described as black, in his 20s, 6 feet tall, weighing 160 pounds. At the time he was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt over his head and dark blue shorts.

The second robbery occurred early the following morning on Tuesday at 1:08 a.m. This time two suspects jumped out from behind a bush and approached two men who were walking in the 700 block of Foothill Boulevard. As in the earlier robbery, both men produced black handguns and both pointed the guns toward each victim’s head. The suspects demanded the victims’ property. The victims gave the men wallets, a set of Honda vehicle keys, an iPhone, a Galaxy phone and a set of Audi car keys. The two suspects then left the area on foot. Deputies later found a wallet with credit cards but the cash was missing.

The first suspect was described as black, in his 20s, 5’7” tall, weighing 140 pounds and at the time was wearing a dark hoodie and blue jeans. The second suspect was described as black, mid 20s, 5’9” tall, weighing 150 pounds and at the time was wearing a dark hoodie and red basketball shorts under his blue jeans. Each suspect was armed with a black, semi automatic handgun.

Sgt. Chu, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept./Crescenta Valley Station, said this type of robbery is unusual in the area.

“We are working these cases and are not exactly sure but do think they [the suspects] are not from this area,” Chu said.

It is also not certain if the same two suspects committed these robberies. The investigation is ongoing.

  Mary Okeefe