A person was robbed of more than $4,000 in cash at gunpoint by a pair of suspects who escaped, police said Sunday.
Officers responded to reports of a robbery around 4:15 p.m. Saturday in the 10700 block of Washington Boulevard just west of Overland Avenue, adjacent to Sony Pictures Studio, according to the Culver City Police Department.
“The investigation indicated the victim visited an ATM about 1 p.m. Saturday in the 5300 block of Sepulveda Boulevard. Two suspects followed the victim to the intersection of Culver Park Drive and Slauson Avenue,” the department reported.
When the victim exited a vehicle to retrieve an item from the trunk, the suspects boxed the victim in with their vehicles, according to police.
The first suspect exited the passenger side of a vehicle, withdrew a black semiautomatic pistol, pointed it at the victim and said, “Run your pockets,” the department reported. The second suspect approached and stood behind the victim.
The suspects reached into the victim’s pockets and took an envelope with cash. They returned to their vehicles and drove north on Slauson Avenue and out of view. They were described as males in black clothing.
The victim’s identity and condition was not immediately available.
Officials advised the following recommendations to limit the risk of becoming a victim of armed robbery:
— Be aware of your surroundings, pay attention to anyone observing your activities outside a bank or financial institution;
— Do your banking during daylight hours, do not go alone, bring a companion and visit banking locations that are not isolated;
— Conceal cash and bank-related items, store cash discreetly, such as in a purse or wallet and avoid displaying bank bags or envelopes that may draw attention. Do not count your cash in public;
— Vary your routine — criminals often look for patterns, so changing your banking habits is advisable;
— Secure your vehicle, ensure that your vehicle is locked, windows are closed and valuables are not visible, reducing the likelihood of becoming a target;
— Report suspicious activity — if you notice someone acting suspiciously or believe you are being followed, report it immediately to law enforcement and drive to the nearest police station;
— Keep your financial activity private — do not disclose to others your plans for depositing or withdrawing funds.
Authorities urged anyone who may have information regarding the robbery to contact the CCPD’s PIO Jennifer Atenza at 310-253-6120 or jennifer.atenza@culvercity.org or the watch commander at 310-253-6202.