On Dec. 12, 2012, the UPS Store in the 15000 block of South Normandie Avenue was held up by an armed robber. Investigators said the suspect grabbed a female customer, held her at gunpoint and used her as a shield while robbing the store and several other customers.
In another incident on March 4, authorities said the same UPS Store was targeted in a robbery. This time, investigators said two armed men barged into the store and took money from the business and its customers.
Authorities said they believe 20-year-old Samuel David Wynn Jr. of Los Angeles was involved in both robberies. He is a parolee with prior arrests and convictions for robbery. He was arrested Monday.
"Because of that video, a tip came in from a person who knew the suspect, or knew who he was. With that information detectives identified the suspect," said Lt. Steve Prendergast of the Gardena Police Department. "They located him and he was arrested."
Prendergast said the Gardena detectives were working with other detectives in surrounding areas to find out if Wynn is responsible for other similar robberies.
Wynn was charged with seven counts of robbery. He was being held on $1.6 million bail.
The second suspect involved in the March 4 robbery remains at large.
Police are asking for anyone with information to come forward. Specifically, they're looking for the woman who was held hostage during the December robbery. Anyone with information about the case was urged to contact the Gardena Police Department at (310) 217-9635.
