A woman was assaulted and robbed of her gold necklace near 406 W. 17th Street in Santa Ana on Wednesday night, and police say they had three suspects located within minutes thanks to help from the air. A fourth suspect remains outstanding as the investigation continues.
According to the Santa Ana Police Department, patrol officers responded to the violent robbery at approximately 10:26 p.m. on November 4. Police said the victim was assaulted by multiple individuals who forcibly stole her gold necklace during the encounter near 17th Street.
Air Support Helps Track Down Suspects Fast
Officers did not have to search long. Per the same account, patrol units working alongside Eagle-1 air support located three suspects shortly after the robbery occurred. The victim then identified all three of the located suspects, police said, and officers recovered her stolen necklace from one of them.
Despite the quick turnaround on three suspects, the case is not closed. The department said it continues efforts to identify and locate a fourth outstanding suspect, and the investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to piece together the rest of the case.
Pattern of Gold-Chain Robberies in the Area
Wednesday's robbery is not the only recent report of a gold chain being violently snatched from someone near 17th Street. In June, a 24-year-old man and his brother were approached by a group near Fairview Street and 17th Street, and KTLA reported that someone came up from behind and ripped the victim's gold chain from his neck before multiple suspects shoved him to the ground.
That earlier incident, which happened at a shopping-center parking lot while the brothers were picking up pizza, was also covered by CBS Los Angeles, which reported it occurred three weeks before its story ran. There is no confirmed connection between that case and Wednesday's robbery near 406 W. 17th Street, and police have not said whether the two incidents are related.
For now, Santa Ana police have not released the identities of the three located suspects or said whether any arrests or charges have followed. The search for the fourth suspect continues as the investigation moves forward.
