Pair Robs, Kidnaps Woman and Infant at Sam's Club

Orange County Sheriff's deputies are warning residents about a pair of hustlers who tried to rob a woman with a child  they chatted up in a Sam's Club in Stanton, abducting her and forcing her to buy them two iPads on a credit card when she proved she had no cash in a bank account.

Authorities are also asking for the public's help in identifying them suspects. 

"We've got very good video and stills" of the two, Orange County sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said. Both were Spanish speakers. One was a gray- haired man, 50-60-years old and about 5 feet 1 inch and 140 pounds. His accomplice, who had short brown hair, was 40-50 years old and about 5 feet 8 inch and 160 pounds, he said.

According to Amormino:

About 1 p.m. Thursday in the Sam's at 12540 Beach Blvd., the victim, who had her 18-month-old child with her, was approached by the older of the two suspects, who feigned illness and asked where the nearest hospital was, and the woman told the man she didn't know.

About that time, the brown-haired man walked up and said he knew the way to the hospital and offered to show them the way. The woman was persuaded to walk outside to her car, where one of the men pulled out a gun and forced her inside.

Once in the car, the woman told the men she didn't have any cash, and the men told her to drive home to get some. When she told them that her husband was at home, they directed her to an ATM -- though she told the gunman there was no cash in the account.

When the woman showed the would-be robbers the balance to prove she had little or no cash, the abductors had the woman drive back to the Sam's Club and forced her to buy two iPads with a credit card. Once outside, the two men then took her gold earrings and some cash she was carrying.

- City News Service