Suspect Faces 15 Counts in Robberies

A convicted robber was charged Thursday with a series of supermarket and fast-food restaurant robberies this month in the San Fernando Valley.

Edward Gandy, 23, of Canoga Park pleaded not guilty to 15 counts of robbery at his arraignment Thursday in Van Nuys Municipal Court.

Gandy was arrested by Los Angeles police at 3 a.m. Saturday as he was driving through Canoga Park, Detective Ed Pikor said. Officers recognized Gandy’s car from descriptions given by robbery victims, then found that he had the word “Harley” tattooed across the back of his left hand, something also described by witnesses, Pikor said.

Twelve of the robberies occurred last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Pikor said. Gandy told investigators he was stealing to support an addiction to rock cocaine, the detective said.

“When he ran out of dope, he would go out and rob,” Pikor said.

The robberies took place in Canoga Park, Reseda and Van Nuys, Pikor said. Gandy would approach a cash register, announce a robbery and lift his shirt to display an automatic pistol, he said.

The average take in the robberies was about $300, Pikor said.

Gandy told police he developed the cocaine habit shortly after being paroled from prison Feb. 12, Pikor said. Gandy is being held without bail in County Jail.