Teenage suspects in liquor store robbery arrested

ELK GROVE – Elk Grove police snatched up two 15-year-olds who were reportedly behind a brazen armed robbery of a neighborhood liquor store on Tuesday and may be connected to multiple other crimes.

The suspects, who are not being identified because of their age, were arrested without incident after police set up a large perimeter around Elk Grove Creek, after witnesses spotted two juveniles abandoning a Lexus and hopping fences toward the creek.

The owner of Elk Grove Wine and Liquor on Florin Road was able to give police a description of the armed suspect that robbed him Tuesday morning, as well as the driver of the getaway vehicle he entered. The store owner also provided police with the license plate number of the white 1997 Lexus LS 400 that a records check confirmed had been reported stolen in a carjacking in Sacramento County.

After the suspects ditched the car in the 8700 block of Elk Grove Boulevard and fled toward the creek on foot, police set up a wide perimeter and dispatched K-9 units to scour the creek area.

During the search, one of the suspects tried to escape the perimeter in the 9500 block of Blarney Court, but was taken into custody by nearby officers.

As K-9 units began to move their search west from where the first suspect was taken into custody, a neighbor alerted officers that the second juvenile was hiding in a garbage can in her backyard, located in the 8700 block of Bray Vista Way. The second 15-year-old suspect was taken into custody without incident.
A loaded firearm and three Airsoft BB guns were recovered from inside the stolen vehicle.

Witnesses identified the two juvenile suspects as being responsible for Tuesday’s liquor store robbery. Detectives are investigating whether the two suspects are responsible for three recent robberies in Elk Grove and surrounding areas. Both suspects are being processed and will be transported to juvenile hall on robbery and weapons charges.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the Elk Grove Police Department Detective Bureau at (916) 478-8060.