Los Angeles police announced on October 22 that suspects involved in several food truck robberies and ATM theft cases have been arrested.
On October 16, 22-year-old Los Angeles man Jesus Garcia-Sotelo was arrested for at least eight armed robberies of food trucks in the San Fernando Valley and is being held without bail. Garcia-Sotelo faces charges of eight counts of robbery, two counts of attempted robbery, and ten counts of armed assault.
Commander Warner Castillo of the North Hollywood Police Department stated that between September 8 and September 21, seven food trucks and a 7-Eleven store were robbed, with all victims threatened with firearms. Detectives from the North Hollywood Police Department were able to identify the suspects and their vehicles used in the robberies through surveillance videos and other evidence.
According to Castillo, on October 16, police searched Garcia-Sotelo’s residence in the Mission district of the San Fernando Valley and found evidence linking him to the eight robberies. Detective Timothy Kirkpatrick mentioned that police found “distinct items” related to the robberies in Garcia-Sotelo’s home and identified two vehicles associated with the suspect.
Garcia-Sotelo was arrested following the search, and Kirkpatrick noted that he has a criminal history of robbery and weapon violations.
Castillo stated that each victim of the food truck robberies could lose up to $200, equivalent to their entire night’s profit. The Los Angeles police mentioned that there may be other unreported victims in the San Fernando Valley and encourage them to come forward.
In another case, Los Angeles police arrested four suspects linked to eight ATM thefts in the Mission district from August 16 to October 16, a theft in the West Valley district, two robberies, and a carjacking.
Officer John Shah of the Los Angeles Police Department mentioned that the suspects targeted small businesses. “Since August, small businesses in the San Fernando Valley have been hit hard by 18 cases of break-ins. These criminals have been brazen, breaking into small businesses, stealing ATMs, and leaving victims with thousands of dollars in losses.”
Police stated that the suspects would forcefully enter the stores, attach chains to the ATMs, and then pull them out using vehicles. They would load the ATMs into vehicles and flee, often causing significant damage to the stores.
On October 16, officers conducted residential searches in the Sylmar and Canyon Country areas, seizing cash and three vehicles related to the theft cases, and arrested four suspects.
Of the four arrested individuals, three suspects aged 22-24 are Los Angeles residents, while a 40-year-old suspect is from Santa Clarita. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office has filed charges against all four individuals.