LAPD looking for suspect in West LA armed robberies

WEST LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Police are looking for the public's help finding an armed suspect who took cash and lottery scratchers from two stores in West Los Angeles.[br /][br /]The robbery suspect hit two stores on Santa Monica Boulevard the morning of Jan. 27. In both cases, he lifted his shirt to reveal the handle of a gun in his waistband and then demanded money and lottery scratcher tickets.[br /][Ads /][br /]Around 1:15 a.m., he walked into a store near Santa Monica and Wellesley Avenue. He walked up to the register, lifted his shirt to show the gun, put a plastic bag on the counter and then demanded money from the clerk, police say.[br /][br /][youtube ID="f8QHpq301JI" /][br /][br /]The clerk put cash into the bag and the suspect then demanded lottery scratcher tickets. He took them and fled on foot.[br /][br /]Later that same morning around 6:15 a.m., police say the same suspect walked into a gas station store at Santa Monica and Beloit Avenue.[br /][br /]He again walked up to the register, put a plastic bag on the counter and demanded money. When the clerk initially did not understand what he was saying, he lifted his shirt to show the black handle of a gun in his waistband.[br /][Ads /][br /]He demanded lottery scratchers and cash, and then fled on foot.[br /][br /]Police describe the suspect as a white male, around 27-33 years old, with short brown or red hair. He is about 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall with a medium build. He was wearing a Hurley cap, dark jacket with light stripe on the front, black jeans and black shoes. He was wearing blue surgical gloves in the second robbery.[br /][br /]Anyone with information is asked to call West Los Angeles Robbery Detective Witzer at (310) 444-1529. During non-business hours, calls can be made to (877)LAPD-24-7 or anonymous tips can be made to [url HREF="www.lacrimestoppers.org.[br /]" TARGET="" REL="nofollow"]Crime Stoppers[/url] at (800)222-TIPS.