SAN LEANDRO, Calif. — The San Leandro Police Department is investigating after a string of armed and strong-armed robberies targeting electronics and high-end sneakers.
According to police, the first robbery occurred May 31 around 10 p.m. when two juveniles at the Bayfair BART station were confronted by a large group of people between the ages of 10 and 20 years old.
Police say some of the people in the group challenged the victims to a fight, and surrounded them. One of the suspects threw a punch, and the victims ran to Bayfair Center where they got separated.
One of the victims was chased into a parking lot across Fairmont Drive where he was knocked to the ground and punched and kicked. According to police, the suspects took the boy’s Nike shoes off his feet and stole his cellphone.
The other victim was able to run away and call police. The suspects left the area, and have not been identified.
A similar robbery occurred June 2 around 4 p.m. when two middle school students were walking home in the 2100 block of E. 14th Street when they were confronted by three older teenagers.
Police say the victim was carrying a shopping bag containing Nike shoes. The student resisted when one of the suspects tried to rip the bag out of his hand. One of the suspects pistol whipped the student with a black handgun. The student was knocked to the ground and temporally lost consciousness. He was later taken to the hospital where he had to get stitches.
The other student tried to run away, but the suspects grabbed him and punched him. They stole his iPhone from his pocket and his Nike shoes off his feet. The suspects left the area.
About 40 minutes after the assault police saw a disturbance in the area. The officers learned two adults were driving into a parking lot when they saw a large group of teenagers blocking the entrance.
When the adults confronted the teens, they were told to “go around.” The adults got out of the car to confront the teens, leaving their 2-year-old inside.
Police say during the confrontation, the suspects ransacked the car, stealing a computer tablet and iPhone. At one point, a teen grabbed a metal chair and threw it at one of the adults, nearly hitting her.
One of the suspects allegedly got into the driver’s seat and started to drive out of the parking lot. The victims asked him to stop because the child was in the car. The teen stopped the car just before police showed up.
Two of the teenagers were arrested on charges including assault with a deadly weapon, carjacking, kidnapping and child endangerment. They were taken to juvenile hall.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the San Leandro Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division with any information regarding this case at 510-577-3230 or contact the anonymous tip line at 510-577-3278.
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