Armed Man Helps Shoplifting Suspect Escape From Store Security
WHITTIER (CBSLA.com) — A woman detained for shoplifting in Whittier is at large after a possible male accomplice brandished a weapon at store security officers to help her escape, authorities said.
Police began searching for the pair after the woman was detained by store security at about 4:45 p.m. Sunday at the Quad Shopping Center, 8500 Painter Ave., Whittier police spokesman Officer John Scoggins said.
Store security called police to come to the scene, but before they arrived, a man showed up and brandished a weapon at the store security people so the woman could escape, Scoggins said.
The two suspects then fled the scene in a gray Dodge Challenger that was registered in Las Vegas, Scoggins said. It's unknown if that car was reported stolen.
A witness tried to follow the suspects' car when it left the scene but the suspects managed to lose the witness on the roads, Scoggins said.
The suspects' car was later found parked at 15700 Starbucks St., but the two suspects had already fled.
The case will be turned over to detectives who will try to locate the suspects, said Whittier police Lt. Aaron Ruiz.
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