Terrorism Task Force Probe Brazen Robbery in OC

LAGUNA NIGUEL — The search is on for a brazen robber. Orange County authorities are looking for a suspect who pulled out a sawed-off shotgun to rob a Radio Shack store. Now, a terrorism task force has joined the probe into the heist.

The terrorism task force was called in after the thief's unusual behavior during the robbery.

Orange County Sheriff's deputies were sent to the Radio Shack in the 27200 block of Alicia Parkway at 12:28 p.m. yesterday, said the department's Jim Amormino.

Witnesses told investigators a well-dressed man of Middle-Eastern descent spent about 30 minutes browsing, asking questions about GPS receivers and talking and receiving calls on a mobile telephone, before pulling a sawed-off shotgun out of a duffel bag and threatening employees, Amormino said.

The man stole six walkie-talkies -- good up to about 5 miles -- an LCD television, rechargable batteries and cash from the register, Amormino said.

Amormino said the holdup was unusual insomuch that the same man man apparently called the store about 9 a.m. yesterday, asking for directions from Garden Grove.

The clerk who spoke to the man told him about other Radio Shack stores nearer him, but the man said he wanted to go to the Alicia Parkway store, Amormino said.

The robber, who was wearing an ear piece, made two phone calls and received at least three, Amormino said.

"He was inquiring about GPS systems, he came from quite a distance away and singled the store, he was making phone calls, he produced a shotgun after being in the store for a long time and the type of merchandise he took, that all makes it very unusual," Amormino said.

"At this point, there are no known terrorist ties, but everybody is on a heightened state of vigilance," Amormino said.

The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department had a similar case that was reported to the Walnut station recently, Amormino said. In that holdup, a man called a Radio Shack, asked directions from Garden Grove and robbed the place, he said.

(cough)concentration camps(cough)

Quoted: thats just fuckin wierd.

+1000

Would think if hes part of a terror cell they would have the money to buy Radio Shack stuff and keep a low profile.

Quoted: Would think if hes part of a terror cell they would have the money to buy Radio Shack stuff and keep a low profile.

Could be smaller, more defunct cells as a result of decentralization over the past few years.

Quoted: Quoted: Would think if hes part of a terror cell they would have the money to buy Radio Shack stuff and keep a low profile. Could be smaller, more defunct cells as a result of decentralization over the past few years.

Or they could be saving for bigger plans??