Naked man robs security guards in La Brea of $17, cell phones

A bizarre crime took place at the La Brea Pitch Lake Visitor Facilities compound on the night of April 8 when two men, one of whom was completely nude, held up two security officers at gunpoint.

The incident occurred around 10.30 pm at the compound on Southern Main Road, where two security officers, 23 and 42, were on duty.

They were unarmed and inside the security booth near the main gate.

A slim, barefoot man with a gun and what appeared to be an extended magazine pointed the weapon at them as he announced a hold-up while standing outside the main door of the booth.

The gunman was about five feet seven inches tall, slim built and dark in complexion.

He was wearing dark blue three-quarter pants, a white jersey, and a white jersey wrapped around his head with only his eyes visible.

Meanwhile, the accomplice, who was completely nude, went past the gunman and into the booth, ordering the guards to lie on the ground.

The naked man was unarmed and had a white jersey covering his head, with only his eyes visible. He, too, was barefoot.

As the gunman threatened to kill both officers, who were fearing for their lives, the naked man robbed one guard of a cell phone worth $1,600 and the other of a cell phone worth $600 as well as $17.

After the robbery, the two suspects ordered the officers to remain face down and then ran towards the southern side of the partially lit compound.

The suspects jumped over a chain link fence and went out of sight.

La Brea police were alerted, and Sgt Seurattan and PC Rooplal were among the first responders.

The police searched for the suspects without success.

PC Rooplal is leading the investigation.