$10K Reward Offered To Locate 3 Armed Men Suspected Of Robbing Azusa Pawn Shop
AZUSA (CBSLA.com) — Authorities sought the public's help Monday to identify those responsible for committing an armed robbery at a pawn shop in Azusa.
Shortly before 2 p.m. on May 24, officers were sent to the 1000 block of West Gladstone Street for report of a robbery, according to the Azusa Police Department.
Upon their arrival, police learned that three armed suspects robbed Azusa Pawn, a federal firearms licensee, of jewelry, a large amount of jewelry, eight firearms and an iPod.
A preliminary investigation revealed a man entered the store and spent around 20 minutes looking at jewelry and firearms that were displayed for sale. He then exited the store.
About a half-hour later, three men entered the business and ordered employees to lie face down on the floor. The suspects proceeded to ransack the store and ordered an employee to open a safe at gunpoint.
Officers said one employee sustained a broken nose during the robbery after he was kicked in the face by one of the suspects.
While the robbery was being committed, a man entered the business with his young son who carried an iPod. They were both ordered to lie on the ground.
Police said all three suspects are African American men who are in their early 20s. The man who entered the store prior to the incident is believed to possibly be associated with one of the three men or committed the armed robbery.
Detectives described the first suspect a man who stands around 5-foot-10 tall and weighs 170 pounds. He was last seen wearing a red-colored hooded sweatshirt with the word "MINNESOTA" on the front of it, and sweat pants.
The second suspect stands around 5-foot-9 tall and weighs 190 pounds. Investigators said he was last seen wearing a grey zip up sweatshirt that has a red-colored hood. At the time of the robbery, he had facial hair.
According to detectives, the third suspect was last seen wearing a dark hoodie with sweat pants. He stands around 5-foot-8 tall and weighs 160 pounds.
The men were seen entering a dark colored SUV, possibly a Saturn, before they narrowly missed hitting a pedestrian outside of the pawn shop. The suspects then fled east on Gladstone Street.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Azusa Police Department are concerned these criminals may be able to commit additional acts of violence.
Officials offered a $10,000 reward for information that would lead to the conviction of the suspects that were captured on store video surveillance footage.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Azusa Police Department at (626) 812-3200 or the ATF Tip Line at (800) 283-4867.
