Cigarette bandits smoking out Walgreens across San Fernando Valley

Police Wednesday sought the public’s help in identifying three suspects wanted for thefts of cigarettes from several Walgreens in the San Fernando Valley.

Since June 7, mostly in the early morning hours, the suspects have entered various Walgreens in Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Alreta and Burbank where they have walked behind the cash registers and stolen large quantities of cigarettes, Burbank Police Sgt. Derek Green said.

Eight thefts have been reported, with losses reaching into the thousands of dollars, Green said.

At about 4 a.m. on June 22, two suspects entered a Walgreens at 1028 S. San Fernando Blvd. where they approached a cashier and demanded that she “stay back” as they selected packages of cigarettes from behind the counter, shoveling them into a pillow case, he said.

The suspects then fled to a four-door, possibly gray sedan driven by a third suspect, he said. The suspects displayed no weapons during any of the thefts. The suspects entered the store wearing latex gloves in some cases,  and they used a different getaway car in each crime, Green said.

The suspects were described as men in their 30s wearing baggy clothing and baseball-style hats, he said.

Burbank police detectives asked anyone with any information regarding the thefts to call them at (818) 238-3245.

–City News Service