Hooking & Booking media correction 9-25 2300hr

Still great police work....

Burbank police nab three suspected bank robbers
By Jerry Berrios, Staff Writer
Updated: 09/25/2009 04:42:41 PM PDT

BURBANK - Forget the make-believe action flicks filmed inside those Burbank sound stages.

Burbank police dealt with their own real-life drama Friday morning when, officials say, three teenagers disguised as UPS drivers robbed the Citizens Business Bank at 4100 W. Alameda Ave. The trio then led police on a chase that ended with a freeway crash, attempted carjacking and a foot pursuit in neighborhoods near Highland Avenue and the Hollywood Freeway.

"It was something right out of the movies," said Burbank Police Sgt. Robert Quesada.

The suspects - males ages 19, 17 and 16 - walked in the the bank about 10 a.m., and yelled, "Everybody down on the floor," Quesada said.

Two of the suspects grabbed an employee and forced her to open the bank's vault, he said. Other employees called police while the suspects robbers shoved an undetermined amount of cash into bags.

Police arrived as the suspects - decked out in the brown uniform of the package-delivery service - came out of the bank and fled in a silver Lexus, Quesada said.

An officer reported seeing an explosion inside the luxury car - possibly the combustible dye packs placed in the bank bags to help identify bank robbers and their loot.

Police followed the Lexus as it drove erratically past the film studios, crashing into vehicles including an unmarked police car, he said.

With authorities in pursuit, the suspects entered the southbound 101 Freeway at Barham Boulevard, but soon crashed their car, Quesada said.
Advertisement
While two of the suspects ran toward a residential neighborhood, the third tried to unsuccessfully carjack a vehicle on the northbound freeway.

With the help of LAPD officers and air support, the three suspects were arrested about a half-hour after the incident began, Quesada said.

The trio was taken to a nearby hospital, where one was treated for heat exhaustion, Quesada said. No other injuries were reported.

Kenneth Hammond, 19, of Torrance, was arrested on suspicion of robbery, kidnapping, and attempted carjacking. He was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail at the Burbank Jail.

The 16 and 17-year-olds, both of Los Angeles, were arrested on suspicion of robbery, kidnapping and other charges. Their names were not released because they are juveniles.

The FBI also responded and may pursue federal charges, pending its investigation, Quesada said.

Love it when I see a correction, good job guys, Are these the same gangsters/ serial bandits that hit South Bay dozen times and Union Bank, Hesperia 2 days ago or just another 'set' of the LA Crips.
Check Bank Robbery website www.scorpio-security.com for photo of "Crip" bank robber minus uniform, right hand sidebar