Teen-Age Suspect Arrested in Overnight Crime Spree

HUNTINGTON BEACH —  A 16-year-old boy who police said went on an overnight robbery spree was arrested Thursday morning after a victim gave authorities a description of his car.

The Huntington Beach boy, who was not identified because of his age, allegedly robbed two people of their wallets--claiming to have a gun--but failed in five other attempts during a seven-hour period ending with his arrest about 8:30 a.m, police said.

“We think we put a stop to a spree,” Sgt. Darrell Klopp said.

The alleged series of crimes began when a man was robbed of $240 in a supermarket parking lot shortly after 2 a.m. The bandit simulated having a gun sticking from a sweat-shirt pocket, police said. The bandit fled. Two attempted robberies by someone using a similar method and matching the suspect’s description were reported within a one-mile area in the next hour, Lt. Luis Ochoa said.

The same suspect is believed responsible for crimes at two locations several hours later. In one instance, a would-be thief failed to wrest a purse from a woman at an automated teller machine and unsuccessfully demanded money from two other people before a man gave up his wallet about 8:20 a.m. in a shopping center on Algonquin Street, Ochoa said.

Police arrested the teen-ager minutes later when an officer spotted a car matching a description given by a victim. Two victims brought to the scene identified him, Ochoa said. Police did not find a gun, he said.