A man scouting a potential restaurant location in the San Gabriel Valley was robbed after a suspect approached his vehicle, demanded money, and threatened him with a weapon, according to police. Officers responded to the robbery call, and the suspects drove off once they had the cash in hand. Later, detectives tracked down a suspect in Covina who was still wearing the same all-black outfit he wore during the holdup.
According to the Alhambra Police Department, the victim was in the San Gabriel Valley seeking out a potential restaurant location when the suspect approached his vehicle, demanded money, and threatened him with a weapon. The victim handed over cash before the suspects fled the scene. Alhambra Police Department detectives later located the suspect, identified as Kongli Tang of Covina, and arrested him in connection with the robbery.
When detectives caught up with Tang, he wasn't just dressed the part — the department's account listed a loaded ghost gun, fake identification cards, paperwork, cash, a money counter, and four cellphones among the evidence. A luggage case in his possession also held a second all-black outfit, seemingly a spare set of robbery attire. Tang was booked at Alhambra Police Department's jail following his arrest.
A Cash-Heavy Target in a Dining Destination
A Cash-Heavy Target in a Dining Destination The choice of Alhambra as a hunting ground for a cash robbery isn't random. The city has a 2026 population of 79,207 residents, according to World Population Review. A would-be restaurant owner might scout a location in the city. That backdrop helps explain why a would-be restaurant owner might have been checking out locations in the city.
Exactly how the suspect knew the victim was sitting on that much money remains unclear, and investigators have not said how he identified his target. What is clear is how far the suspect traveled after the robbery: Covina, where detectives caught up with him, is roughly 16 miles from Alhambra, according to Rome2Rio.
Stacking Charges Under California Law
The ghost gun alone opens Tang up to serious legal exposure. Under California Assembly Bill 1621, many reforms took effect immediately on June 30, 2022, while some critical provisions became effective on January 1, 2023, according to the Giffords Law Center. California law restricts possession, buying, selling, or manufacturing of unserialized firearms and unfinished precursor parts.
The robbery charge itself is another allegation in the case. The account describes the robbery as involving a weapon.
The fake identification cards found with Tang were among the items listed in the department's account.
A String of Recent Arrests for Alhambra Police
The account focuses on the robbery and the subsequent arrest.
Tang's arrest in Covina, miles from where the robbery occurred, is an example of casework extending beyond city limits for the department.
