Canoga Park : Police Arrest Suspect in 15 Street Robberies

A special anti-gang task force has hit pay dirt, arresting a man suspected of taking part in 15 robberies in little over a week, Los Angeles police said Friday.

Edward Miramontes, 26, of Canoga Park, was stopped by the task force about 7:10 p.m. Thursday when members of the LAPD force assigned to patrol the area to quell gang violence spotted Miramontes’ red pickup, which had been linked to a series of street robberies, Lt. George Rock said.

Miramontes and an accomplice allegedly committed as many as 15 street robberies since Sept. 19, threatening to kill pedestrians in the West Valley unless they handed over money and jewelry, Rock said. The robbers got away with as much as $800 from their heists, Rock said.

Other suspects remain at large, and anyone with information about them is asked to call West Valley robbery detectives at (818) 756-8546, Rock said.

The Special Problems Unit was convened to patrol the West Valley after several gang shootings in the area in recent weeks. The nine-member group also assisted in the arrest Friday morning of a 19-year-old Reseda gang member who allegedly violated his probation by stockpiling guns, Rock said.

Rock said the arrest of Miramontes demonstrated the advantages of having the anti-gang unit on patrol.

“More officers on the street will result in more arrests, because there are more eyes and ears on the street,” he said.