Police catch five suspects in armed robbery Police catch five suspects in armed robbery (February 04, 2005)

17-year-old youth held up at knifepoint

Five suspects from San Leandro who said they came to Pleasanton looking for a victim to rob were apprehended by police shortly after holding up a 17-year-old male by knifepoint Monday night.

The victim was walking on West Las Positas Boulevard near Payne Road about 10:06 p.m. when a white, older model, four-door vehicle, which he described as a Buick, stopped. Four of the occupants exited the car and quickly approached the victim, said police.

One of the suspects brandished a knife and demanded cash and personal property. The boy handed over his iPod, cell phone, cash and his jacket, then ran to the 7-Eleven store on Hopyard Road and called police.

Shortly afterward an officer saw a car answering the description traveling south on Foothill Road from West Las Positas Boulevard. A few minutes later another officer spotted the vehicle on eastbound Bernal Avenue and made a traffic stop. The victim positively identified the suspects, and most of his property was in the vehicle.

The five suspects were placed under arrest for armed robbery. The three adults, ages 21 and two 18-year-olds, were booked at Santa Rita Jail. The two juveniles, ages 16 and 15, were booked at Juvenile Hall.

Two of the suspects told police they had purposely traveled to Pleasanton to "jack" a victim. -Dolores Fox Ciardelli

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