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Robber Hits 2 Westchester Restaurants Within 10 Minutes

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Police need the public's help to identify a robber who struck at two Westchester restaurants within 10 minutes.

A man armed with a handgun was reported trying to rob a waitress at an IHOP Restaurant, 8600 S. Sepulveda Blvd., at about 9:45 a.m. last Friday, police said. He put a brown paper bag on the counter and demanded money, then became startled and ran from the restaurant, got into a car and fled eastbound on Manchester Avenue.

About 10 minutes later, the same suspect entered a Denny's Restaurant, 8601 S. Bellanca Ave., and again put a paper bag on the counter and demanded money from one of the waitresses, police said. The waitress complied and police say the suspect grabbed the bag, containing an undisclosed amount of money, and fled from the restaurant eastbound on Arbor Vitae, toward Aviation Boulevard.

The suspect was described a Hispanic or light-skinned black man, between 40 and 50 years old, about 5-foot-7, 150 to 175 pounds, with a thick dark mustache and possibly a goatee. He was last seen wearing a brown beanie or knit cap, a black jacket with a gray liner, light blue jeans and black boots. He is considered armed and dangerous.

IHOP robbery car
(credit: LAPD)

The getaway vehicle is described as a white first or second generation 1998-2010 Ford Focus with four doors and altered or dealer plates and a rear bumper sticker.

Anyone with information about the robber's identity or about either robbery can call LAPD Pacific Division Robbery Detective Jurado at (310) 482-6373, or the Pacific Division Watch Commander at (310) 482-6357.

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