Cops nab two men sought in at least 16 Calif. store robberies
CHINO HILLS, Calif. -- Detectives in in the Los Angeles suburb of Chino Hills have announced the arrest of two suspects they say were responsible for at least 16 robberies that span four Southland counties, reports CBS Los Angeles.
According to the station, in each of the robberies, one of the suspects reportedly wielded a firearm and a machete. The other parked the get-away vehicle in obscure places to avoid detection by surveillance video of the various businesses they hit.
Anthony Edward Oddie, 20, of Chino Hills, and Richard Gomez-Quiroz, 20, of Riverside, were each arrested on a $1,000,000 arrest warrant after an extensive, months-long investigation, detectives said.
The crimes allegedly tied to the suspects include robberies in Chino Hills, Artesia, Fountain Valley, Diamond Bar, Riverside, Santa Ana, Orange and Newport Beach, reports the station.
Authorities said the suspects often returned to a store more than once during the crime spree. Chino Hills stores were victimized a total of six times, with a Circle K and Pizza Hut each getting hit twice.
According to the station, Oddie would enter the stores wearing a hooded sweatshirt, a bandana, a surgical mask, gloves and a hat while wielding a handgun (later determined to be an airsoft gun), and a machete. He would demand money from the cash register and threaten workers not to call police. The suspects would reportedly rob up to four locations in one night.
Chino Hills detectives took the lead on the investigation since the majority of the robberies were committed in their city.
With the assistance of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Specialized Enforcement Division, Oddie and Gomez-Quiroz were taken into custody without incident0.
CBS Los Angeles reports that search warrants were executed on Oddie's house, Gomez-Quiroz's house and Gomez-Quiroz's car. Detectives said they found evidence linking the suspects to the string of robberies including cash, the distinctive clothing and the weapons.
Chino Hills detectives say the same suspects may have committed robberies in other cities. Anyone with information is asked to call (909)364-2000.