Local news in brief : police task force hunts robbery gang

A Los Angeles police task force has been formed to hunt down a gang suspected of robbing a dozen armored car guards and banks of $500,000. One guard was killed in what police believe is a

related string of daylight holdups and shootings in Southern California since last December. A team of 10 detectives is working full time on the case and sharing information with other law

enforcement agencies, Detective Norm Roberge said. For the record: 12:00 a.m. Nov. 9, 1988 For the Record Los Angeles Times Wednesday November 9, 1988 Home Edition Part 1 Page 2 Column 5

Metro Desk 2 inches; 56 words Type of Material: Correction The Times reported erroneously Tuesday that the Los Angeles Police Department has formed a task force of 10 detectives working full

time to hunt down a gang of armored truck and bank robbers in Southern California. According to Detective Sgt. Norm Roberge, only two detectives are assigned to the case full time, with

assistance from other members of the Robbery Homicide Division’s bank robbery squad. In the latest theft, a gunman on Oct. 31 took an estimated $24,000 from a guard at an Inglewood

supermarket and shot at two employees, but the gun apparently misfired. On Oct. 14, armored car guard Stewart Tecson, 27, of Monterey Park was shot to death in front of customers and staff

at a Security Pacific National Bank branch in Panorama City. “I would consider them one the most dangerous groups in my time of investigating,” Roberge said. “We’re talking about callous

killing. We haven’t had anything like this for years.” MORE TO READ