Strong Arm Robber Follows Victims and Attacks Woman a Second Time as Couple Flees

Two students at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena lost their cellphones to a robber in a strong-arm robbery early Tuesday morning.

The victims, a man and a woman, both 21 years old and Pasadena residents, were walking east on Fillmore Street from the Arroyo Parkway at about 2:18 a.m. when the suspect walked up to them from behind and pointed what they thought might be a handgun at them.

Pasadena police Lt. Pete Hettema said the victims heard the suspect as he approached.

“They turned around and the suspect was holding his arm under a sweatshirt simulating a firearm,” Hettema said. “The suspect demanded money and reached into the pocket of both victims and stole their cellphones, before fleeing on foot.”

A few minutes later, as the victims walked toward their homes, the same suspect appeared again.

“He checked them again in an additional attempt to find more that he could steal, but they didn’t have anything else,” Hettema continued. “He physically grabbed the female and there may have been some kind of a sexual attempt but she screamed and got away.”

Both victims were able to run from the suspect and call police.

Hettema said police were not given a clear description of the suspect, except that he was probably Hispanic, in his 20s, and wore a dark-colored baseball cap.

Anyone with information that could help to arrest the suspect is advised to call the Pasadena Police, at (626) 744-4501.