Crime & Safety

Woman Robbed at Gunpoint in the Rossmoor Shops

The woman was putting her child in a car seat in the Sprouts parking lot this afternoon when the gunman approached.

A Rossmoor woman was robbed at gunpoint today in the Sprouts Farmers Market parking lot at the Shops at Rossmoor.

The robbery occurred at about 2:30 p.m., according to the Seal Beach Police Department. A man in his 20s, wearing a white T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap approached the woman, demanding her jewelry. After she complied, the robber got into a waiting silver or gray compact car driven by another man.

 “Can you imagine? She was putting her child in the car seat, and she turns around to see a man pointing a gun her face,” said Rebecca Lara, founder of the Rossmoor Predator Management Team. The victim is a member of the team, which has recently expanded as a community group aimed at combating crime and spreading safety awareness.

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“He took her wedding ring,” said Lara. “This is not the same Rossmoor where I raised my son.”

 A series of car and home burglaries have plagued the quiet community known for its low crime rate. This is the second time in a year that a resident has been robbed at gunpoint in the Rossmoor shopping center. In October, a 78-year-old man was robbed at gunpoint while walking beside the Farmers & Merchants Bank in the early morning. In that instance, the robber exited a black Toyota and said, “Drop your wallet; I’m sorry I have to do this.” There have been no arrests in last year’s robbery.

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 Anyone with any information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the on-duty watch commander of the Seal Beach Police Department at 562-799-4115 or Detective Gary Krogman at 562-799-4100 Ext. 1108.


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