Suspects in Custody After String of Robberies at Food Trucks and Recycling Centers
Two suspects have been arrested after a series of robberies at food trucks and recycling centers in Santa Ana.
Victims of the robberies described the suspect as a black, heavy-set male with a black semi-automatic handgun. The first incident took place at nearly 10:00 PM on Friday, October 4. The suspect robbed cash from a register in a lunch truck parked in the area of 400 N. Euclid. Employees were present during the robbery.
At about 7:30 PM on Sunday, the same thing happened at a food truck parked in the area of 800 S. Sullivan.
The suspect robbed another cash register at about 10:45 AM on Monday, October 7. This incident took place at a recycling center at 1340 W. McFadden.
Shortly afterwards, the suspect robbed another recycling center, located at 2610 W. Edinger. “The suspect approached the victim employee at the recycling center and pressed a handgun to his stomach, demanding money,” police said in the release. “The suspect took money from the victim’s hand and opened the cash register to take an additional money prior to fleeing.”
The suspect was observed entering into the passenger-side of a gray Jeep SUV in at least two of the incidents.
At about 11:00 PM on Monday evening, Santa Ana Police Department Gang Suppression Unit spotted a suspect and vehicle matching the descriptions provided by the victims of the robberies. Police arrested both the driver and passenger, identified as 36-year-old Lindsey Alvin Green of Rialto and 34-year-old Derrick Stoelting of Santa Ana, and booked them at the Orange County Jail for robbery. Police also found a “replica firearm” inside the vehicle.
Similar incidents also took place in Garden Grove and Westminster. Robberies were committed at a food truck on June 21, a recycling center on September 30, a produce stand on October 6, and a taco truck on October 7. Police departments from the three cities believe the cases are related and are continuing to investigate.
