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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Authorities today sought the public's help to identify three men wanted in a string of at least three convenience-store robberies in the Lakewood, Bellflower and Paramount areas.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies were first called about 9:10 p.m. Monday to a convenience store in the 800 block of Bellflower Boulevard in Lakewood after a silent alarmed was tripped, according to Deputy Trina Schrader.
Deputies learned two suspects entered the store, one of whom produced a handgun and demanded money from an employee. The suspects fled on foot with two cash registers and an unknown amount of money.
Deputies later responded about 11:40 p.m. to an attempted robbery at another convenience store in the 8500 block of Alondra Boulevard in Paramount. They learned of three suspects, two of whom matched descriptions from the previous robbery.
The robbery was interrupted by customers who walked into the store, and the three suspects fled on foot eastbound on Alondra Boulevard, Schrader said.
Deputies responded about 15 minutes later to reports of a robbery at a third convenience store at 17200 block of Downey Avenue in Bellflower. Responding units learned the three suspects again entered the store and one produced a handgun as they demanded money.
After receiving the money, the suspects entered an older model white Mercedes-Benz that fled on the westbound Artesia (91) Freeway, the sheriff's department said.
Following the third incident, the LASD was contacted by Long Beach Police Department personnel regarding robberies in their area with similar suspect descriptions, though authorities have not confirmed if the robberies are related, Schrader said.
Two of the suspects were described only as men between 20 and 25. No description of the third suspect was available.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the LASD Major Crimes Bureau at 562-946-7150. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org.