Orange County law enforcement officials Tuesday asked for the public’s help identifying possible victims of a man charged in a series of armed robberies in Irvine and Fullerton.
Joshua David Benbrook is charged with two counts of first-degree robbery at an automatic teller machine, two counts of kidnapping to commit robbery, two counts of second-degree robbery and a single count of attempted second- degree robbery, all felonies, according to court records.
About 6:20 p.m., May 23, Benbrook allegedly confronted a UC Irvine student walking across the campus’ Watson Bridge and implied he had a weapon as he directed the victim to a nearby ATM to withdraw cash for him, according to Farrah Emami of the Irvine Police Department.
Several minutes later, Benbrook attempted to rob another victim, who ducked into a campus restaurant and evaded the suspect, Emami said.
Just about five minutes later, Benbrook allegedly lured a stranded motorist next to his disabled vehicle into the one the suspect was using, Emami said. Benbrook allegedly used a weapon he retrieved from a glove box to take the victim’s wallet and cellphone, Emami said.
Benbrook allegedly held up a convenience store in the 2700 block of West Orangethorpe Avenue in Fullerton about 2:50 a.m., March 6, police said.
Benbrook was arrested as he left his Irvine residence last Tuesday, Emami said.
Anyone who thinks they may have been a victim was asked to call Fullerton Detective Veronica Gardea at (714) 738-6728, Irvine Detective Victoria Hurtado at (949) 724-7194 or UCI Detective Sgt. Charles Chon at (949) 824-5223.
Benbrook was scheduled to be arraigned June 17.
–City News Service