Two masked men armed with rifles stormed the Sinclair gas station at Avalon Boulevard and 111th Street in South Los Angeles late Wednesday, roughing up an employee and making off with about $10,000 before vanishing into the night, police said.
Witnesses told officers the pair bolted from the station to a waiting vehicle and sped away before patrol units could get to the scene. As of Thursday morning, no arrests had been reported and investigators say the case is still very much active.
Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Southeast Division were called out at about 11:50 p.m. Wednesday to the station at Avalon and 111th, according to MyNewsLA. LAPD Officer Charles Miller told City News Service the suspects were masked, carrying rifles and demanded cash from the clerk.
Surveillance And Witness Accounts
“An employee was assaulted during the robbery,” Miller said, per MyNewsLA. Detectives are now pulling surveillance video from the station and are asking anyone who saw the suspects or caught them on camera to come forward as they work to identify the getaway vehicle and the men involved.
Police Contacts And How To Report
The Southeast Community Police Station lists its detective desk at 213-972-7813 and the station front desk at 213-972-7828, and the LAPD non-emergency line at 1-877-ASK-LAPD, according to the LAPD. Tipsters who want to remain anonymous can also pass along information through iWatch or Crime Stoppers.
Why This Matters
Late-night gas stations and convenience stores are frequent targets for quick cash robberies, leaving clerks and customers exposed and putting added pressure on small-business owners. Police say the investigation is ongoing and are urging nearby businesses to review their own surveillance footage and share anything that might help identify the suspects.
