Suspects steal $8K worth of cellphones from South LA store

SOUTH LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Two armed suspects were caught on camera stealing thousands of dollars worth of cellphones from a South Los Angeles cellphone store.

The incident happened Tuesday around 7 p.m. at a store on South San Pedro Street. Owner Armando Matias said he, two other employees and a customer were in the store at the time.

"One of them pulled out the gun and asks, 'Give me the money! Give me the money! Open the showcase and give us the phones,' and the other guy came in with a big bag," Matias said.

In surveillance video, a suspect cleans out a cellphone case, stealing $8,000 worth of phones as the gunman orders employees to empty the register.

At one point, a father and daughter walk in in the midst of the armed robbery and quickly leave. Matias said several stores in the area have been targeted by thieves, but many of the victims have been too afraid to report the crimes.

The Los Angeles Police Department is now investigating if the two suspects at the cellphone store may be to blame for the other robberies.

Matias hopes the public will be able to help identify the suspects before anyone else falls victim.

"What I want is to catch these guys, absolutely. I just want to help the other stores in my community. I don't want them to tap somewhere else," he said.

He added that the robberies left him and his two employees traumatized.

Anyone with more information may call the LAPD and you can remain anonymous.