UPS Workers and Customers Save Victim of Violent Robbery

By Petr Svab
September 17, 2017 Last Updated: September 17, 2017
L: Security footage of a robbery near a UPS store in the 17100 block of Western Avenue, Gardena, Calif., on Sept. 7, 2017. (Gardena Police Department); R: A UPS store in the 17100 block of Western Avenue, Gardena, Calif. (Screenshot via Google Maps)

A group of UPS employees and customers came to the rescue of a man jumped by two assailants armed with a crowbar on Sept. 7.

The victim had just left a bank in Gardena, California, and was on his way to a UPS store at about 2 p.m.

L: Security footage of a robbery near a UPS store in the 17100 block of Western Avenue, Gardena, Calif., on Sept. 7, 2017. (Gardena Police Department)
L: Security footage of a robbery near a UPS store in the 17100 block of Western Avenue, Gardena, Calif., on Sept. 7, 2017. (Gardena Police Department)

As he walked through a parking lot while looking at his phone, two men attacked him from behind, one wielding a yellow crowbar.

screen-shot-2017-09-17-at-6-21-05-pm

“The suspects knocked him to the ground, struck him with the crowbar and tried to take his property from him,” Gardena Police Department stated in a Facebook post.

L: Security footage of a robbery near a UPS store in the 17100 block of Western Avenue, Gardena, Calif., on Sept. 7, 2017. (Gardena Police Department)
L: Security footage of a robbery near a UPS store in the 17100 block of Western Avenue, Gardena, Calif., on Sept. 7, 2017. (Gardena Police Department)

At that moment, four UPS employees and customers came on the scene.

L: Security footage of a robbery near a UPS store in the 17100 block of Western Avenue, Gardena, Calif., on Sept. 7, 2017. (Gardena Police Department)
L: Security footage of a robbery near a UPS store in the 17100 block of Western Avenue, Gardena, Calif., on Sept. 7, 2017. (Gardena Police Department)

The attackers quickly retreated, fled to a nearby car, and drove away.

L: Security footage of a robbery near a UPS store in the 17100 block of Western Avenue, Gardena, Calif., on Sept. 7, 2017. (Gardena Police Department)
L: Security footage of a robbery near a UPS store in the 17100 block of Western Avenue, Gardena, Calif., on Sept. 7, 2017. (Gardena Police Department)

“Thankfully, the victim was not seriously injured,” the police stated.

It is not clear if the assailants were able to take anything from the victim. At one point in the video it appears that one of the suspects is picking something up from the ground.

Police are looking for the suspects.

“If anyone recognizes these suspects or have any information regarding this violent crime, please notify the Gardena Police Department at 310-217-9625,” the department stated.

The department posted a video of the apparent robbery on its Facebook page.

“An important reminder to always pay attention to your surroundings,” the department commented.