3 teens arrested after carjacking at Walnut Creek shopping center

Three teenage boys were arrested after a carjacking Saturday morning in the parking lot of a Walnut Creek shopping center, police said.

The carjacking occurred at about 2:05 a.m. in the parking lot of the Countrywood Shopping Center, located near the intersection of Bancroft Road and Treat Boulevard, according to Walnut Creek police.

The victim called police saying he had just been carjacked by three suspects wearing masks and driving a black sport utility vehicle. The suspects were armed with a handgun and hammer and took the victim’s vehicle, police said.

Both vehicles fled north from the area on Bancroft Road. Officers began searching the area shortly afterward and eventually found a black SUV with three teenagers inside it on La Salle Court.

The suspects were detained while police searched the car and found a loaded handgun, a hammer, and items belonging to the victim inside. The victim’s vehicle was also parked nearby, according to police.

All three suspects, boys between 15 and 17 years old from Concord and Martinez, were booked into juvenile hall on suspicion of carjacking and conspiracy.

Anyone with information about the robbery is encouraged to call Walnut Creek police at (925) 943-5844.