A group of suspects involved in a series of armed robberies in Pasadena has left residents on edge.
Pasadena police believe there is a connection between the armed robberies that took place on Thursday within the same area.
In the first robbery, a 73-year-old woman was targeted outside a Trader Joe’s on the 400 block of North Rosemead Boulevard at around 4:30 p.m.
She was standing next to her car when two men, one armed with a handgun, demanded her purse. The woman resisted but the men forcibly took her handbag. Both stepped into a getaway car that was being driven by a third suspect before fleeing the scene.
A second robbery targeted a victim using a bank ATM located on the 3500 block of East Foothill Boulevard at around 10:20 a.m.
As the man deposited money into his account, once again, two men suddenly approached him. One man, armed with a handgun, demanded his money while rummaging through his coat and pant pockets.
They took his wallet and car keys before hopping into a getaway car driven by another male suspect.
A third incident happened at a gas station where a cashier was working behind the counter at around 9:30 p.m. Suddenly, a male suspect wearing a mask walked into the store.
“He suddenly asked me to hand over all the money from the register,” said the cashier, who did not wish to be identified. “I didn’t scream out, but I just questioned him saying, ‘Why would I give you the money?’”
That’s when the suspect grew quiet, pulled out a gun and began threatening him.
“He said, ‘I’m going to start counting right now and if you don’t hand over the money, I’m going to straight shoot you,’” the victim recalled.
Police believe the three suspects were involved in both robberies targeting victims at the bank and at Trader Joe’s. For the gas station hold-up, that incident involved a lone gunman and it’s unclear whether it’s connected to the other cases.
No suspect descriptions were provided by police, however, it’s believed their getaway car may be an older-model Honda SUV.
“I’m very surprised,” said Mary Ann Hierman, the Trader Joe’s victim. “I thought we were safe out here. It’s getting bad.”
Hierman said she has stopped carrying a purse and now keeps her wallet in her pocket for safety.
Pasadena police advised the public that, if they are being robbed, they should not resist and just comply as it’s better to have a loss of property than the loss of someone’s life.