LOS ANGELES – An 18-year-old man and a 12-year-old girl have been arrested in a series of armed robberies in the Los Angeles County area, police said Tuesday.
The most recent crime occurred Saturday, when officers were sent to the 3200 block of South Central Avenue on a call of an armed robbery in progress at a convenience store, the Los Angeles Police Department reported.
“Officers responded and were directed to the suspect’s vehicle fleeing the scene,” police said in a statement. “Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop and were led on a vehicle pursuit. During the pursuit, a firearm was discarded by one of the occupants and was recovered by officers.”
The officers detained the vehicle’s two occupants at the conclusion of the pursuit.
“During the investigation, it was determined that both occupants of the vehicle were involved in the armed robbery in which a large amount of currency was taken,” police said. “Officers recovered the currency from the vehicle. Additional investigation revealed that the suspect vehicle was taken in an armed carjacking in Hollenbeck Area earlier that same day.”
Detectives believe the pair were involved in other armed robberies in the county area, including in the cities of South Gate and Azusa, police said.
The man was identified as Nathen Sanchez, 18, of the Los Angeles area. Sanchez was booked on suspicion of robbery, and was being held on $175,000 bail.
The name of the girl was not released.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call detectives at 323-318-3559, or 877-LAPD-247. Tipsters may also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222- TIPS, or use the website lacrimestoppers.org.