Food vendor robbery crew arrested in Southern California: SBSD

Authorities said on Friday that three people suspected in a pair of Inland Empire food vendor robberies may have additional victims.

Kimberly Martinez, 20, Nathaniel Flores, 26, and Alonzo Gonzalez, 19, were all arrested on Wednesday after they were identified as the suspects who robbed the same food vendor on two separate occasions earlier this year, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said.

The first incident occurred shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 30 when deputies responded to a strong-arm robbery at a food vendor stand near the intersection of Santa Ana Avenue and Cedar Avenue in the city of Bloomington.

“The victim’s jewelry was taken from them by force by two suspects,” the Sheriff’s Department said. Deputies searched the area following the incident but were unable to locate the suspects.

A few weeks later, shortly before 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 20, the robbery crew struck the same stand with two suspects again taking the victim’s jewelry before fleeing the area, the sheriff’s department said.

Investigators worked on leads and eventually identified Martinez, who is from Victorville; Flores, who is from Bloomington; and Gonzalez, who is also from Bloomington, as suspects.

Although each of their roles in the robberies was not described, each was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy and robbery with gang enhancement charges.

“The victims in both robberies did not speak English and investigators believe there may be additional victims who are reluctant to contact law enforcement,” the Sheriff’s Department said.

Anyone with additional information or who believes they were victimized by this crew was asked to contact Detective D. Pedersen at 909-356-6710.