[symple_googlemap title=”Lancaster, California” location=”43400 block of 10th Street West ” height=”300″ zoom=”13″]
Two stores selling cell phones and portable electronic devices in Lancaster and Palmdale were robbed in the space of two hours by five suspects, authorities said Tuesday.
No one was hurt or threatened during the incidents, in which approximately $5,500 of merchandise was taken, they said, adding that the first robbery occurred at a Verizon wireless store in Lancaster in the 43400 block of 10th Street West around 6 p.m. Monday.
Lancaster Sheriff’s Station Sgt. Paul Bartlett said no force was used by the suspects.
“They basically walked in, and grabbed and ran,” Bartlett said of the five suspects. He said about $4,500 in merchandise was taken from the store.
The second theft occurred at an AT&T store at the Antelope Valley Mall in Palmdale around 8 p.m. Sgt. Richard Cartmill of the sheriff’s Palmdale Station said about $1,000 in cell phones and iPads were taken from the store around 8 p.m., also by five suspects.
“We do believe they’re probably related,” Cartmill said of the two robberies. “It appears to be the same number of suspects described.”
—City News Service