No Jackpot, But Jail, For Two Suspects Who Allegedly Robbed Two Convenience Stores, Then Tried To Redeem Stolen Scratchers Elsewhere; Long Beach Cops Show Up And Arrest The Pair

(June 28, 2013) -- Two robbery suspects didn't hit the jackpot after allegedly stealing lottery Scratchers from two Long Beach convenience stores, then allegedly trying to redeem some of the Scratchers at other Long Beach businesses. Instead, Long Beach cops (who'd been working with CA lottery authorities) showed up and arrested the pair.

The two arrested suspects, one from Long Beach, the other from Signal Hill, allegedly used a gun in one robbery, and a simultated gun in another, at two Long Beach convenience stores -- one in the 4500 block of Orange Ave. and another in the 1000 block of Redondo Ave.

[LBPD release text]...Long Beach Police arrested a 36-year-old male from Signal Hill, and a 23-year-old male from Long Beach, and they are both being held at the Los Angeles County Jail on $50,000 bail.
The first robbery occurred on May 28, 2013, at approximately 8:45 p.m. at a convenience store in the 4500 block of Orange Avenue. It was reported that two male Black suspects entered the business, one of them wearing a large afro-style wig and armed with a handgun. The suspects demanded money and California Lottery scratchers, and then fled the location on foot.
The second robbery occurred to another convenience store in the 1000 block of Redondo Avenue on June 21, 2013, at approximately 2:45 a.m. Two male black suspects, one of them again wearing a large afro-style wig and with a simulated gun, were reported to have entered the business demanding money and California Lottery scratchers, before fleeing on foot.
Later that same day (June 21st), the Long Beach Police Robbery Detail, working in cooperation with the California State Lottery Commission, learned the stolen lottery tickets were being redeemed at various Long Beach businesses. Long Beach patrol officers responded to one of those locations and apprehended two suspects who were in possession of stolen Lottery tickets.
Long Beach Police robbery detectives conducted a thorough investigation and collected evidence connecting the suspects to the robberies. On June 25, 2013, the case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office who filed two counts of robbery against both defendants.
Long Beach Police believe the suspects may have committed additional unreported robberies, and are asking for the public’s help with incidents where a suspect may have worn an afro-style wig. Anyone with information should contact Long Beach Police Robbery Detective Rudy Romero at (562) 570-7464. Anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), texting TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.