PD: 5 arrested in string of Valley-wide armed robberies
PHOENIX -- Authorities say officers have arrested five people suspected in a string of armed robberies throughout the Valley.
According to Phoenix Police spokesman Trent Crump, between August 5 and October 14 two or three Hispanic male suspects held up several Valley stores and demanding money and other property from victims.
Crump said the robbers primarily targeted cellular phone stores armed with handguns.
He said the suspects became increasingly more violent and one robbery resulted in a shooting between the suspects and a victim.
On October 26, Chandler police arrested two suspects who held up a jewelry store and held employees at gunpoint.
According to police, three men entered Nancy's Jewelry and Clothing near Ray Road and Arizona Avenue about 10:45 a.m. and held two employees at gunpoint while they stole trays of jewelry.
The suspects reportedly fled in a stolen pickup truck.
Within five minutes, officers found the stolen pickup as the suspects pulled into a pawnshop near Alma School and Ray roads, officials said.
Two suspects were taken into custody and most of the stolen jewelry was recovered, according to officials. A third suspect was arrested Tuesday.
Booked on charges of armed robbery were Ruben Mendietta, 26, Andrew Bochinclonny, 29, and Jose Solis, 21. Officials said two of the men were released from prison last May; Mendietta for first-degree murder and Bochinclonny for robbery.
Investigators from several cities have spent the last few days piecing together information, leading to two additional arrests.
Also arrested were Ishmael Luna, 23 and Jocy Martinez, 26.
There is no word yet on charges they face.
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