Authorities use facial recognition software to catch armed robbery suspects
31-year-old man and the 19-year-old woman
LANCASTER, Calif.—A man and a woman suspected in three recent armed robberies in Lancaster have been arrested by detectives who used a facial recognition software program during their investigation, authorities said today.
“It is a relatively new program that uses advancing technology to compare clear facial photos to booking photos already in the database,” Sgt. Randy Harris of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station said. “It is available only to law enforcement.”
The 31-year-old man and the 19-year-old woman were arrested on Thursday, a day after the robbery of a postal supply and private mailbox business on East Avenue J. Their names were not immediately released. The man allegedly robbed businesses at gunpoint, and the woman allegedly drove the getaway car.
The suspects also targeted a check-cashing business on Jan. 17 on West Avenue L, and a fast-food restaurant the following day, according to Harris.
“The male suspect would wait for the other patrons to leave the targeted businesses before approaching the cashiers,” Harris said. “He would then cover his face with sunglasses and a hoodie, brandish a firearm, and have the clerks open the cash registers.”
The robberies netted thousands of dollars.
“The first major lead came when a clear image of the (male) suspect’s face was captured on a surveillance camera during the robbery of (the) check-cashing business,” Harris said.
Detectives entered the photo into the computer system using the facial recognition software. Within minutes, the program provided a possible match for the gunman — a 31-year-old man possibly living in South Los Angeles — and investigators began looking for him.
Following the robbery at the postal supply business on Wednesday, detectives identified a vehicle believed used in the crime, and the investigation led to the arrests of the man and woman, Harris said.
“The male suspect who was arrested for the robberies is the same suspect the facial recognition program indicated as a possible match,” Harris said.
Detectives searched the woman’s apartment in Lancaster, and found a handgun believed used in the crime, Harris said. The gun had been reported stolen in the South Los Angeles area.
LANCASTER, Calif.—Sheriff's deputies confirmed that firefighters found the body of a woman inside a two-story home in the Quartz Hill section of Lancaster after a fire brought under control.
The fire was reported at 5:15 p.m. Sunday in the 42000 block of 56th Street West, Supervisor Michael Pittman of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.
The blaze was under control by 5:26 p.m.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, said the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau.
LANCASTER, Calif.—A Lancaster man was undergoing a psychiatric evaluation this morning after walking away from his home with a shotgun and leaving his family a suicide note, authorities said.
The 64-year-old man left a home in the 43200 block of Sunny Lane at about 3:15 p.m. Sunday afternoon, said Lt. Richard Daniels of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Lancaster Station.
LANCASTER, Calif.—Two armed robbery suspects were arrested after a six-hour standoff with authorities in Lancaster, sheriff’s officials said.
The barricade began around 2 p.m. after sheriff’s deputies attempted to serve an arrest warrant at a home in the 300 block of West Kettering Street near Antelope Valley High School, said Deputy Pete Gomez of the Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau.
The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Michael Volger, was believed to be armed with other people inside the home.
LANCASTER, Calif.—A former Antelope Valley College accounting assistant has been arrested on suspicion of embezzling $500,000.
Mandy Borquez, 33, was charged with six felony counts of grand theft/identity theft after a 10-month investigation by the Commercial Crimes Bureau of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, said Sgt. Pauline Panis of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The investigation started after “the college reported the embezzlement in 2010 discrepancies in their accounting,” Panis said.
LANCASTER, Calif.— Four men and two women were arrested and about 100 roosters used in cockfighting were seized today during a raid at a home just north of Lancaster.
Seven children ranging in ages from 4 to 17 were taken into protective custody by deputies from the sheriff’s Lancaster Station in the 6 a.m. raid in the 46200 block of 30th Street East, said Deputy Lillian Peck of the Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau.
