Source: CBS Los Angeles, Sep 24, 2026. Read the original report (opens in a new tab).
What was reported
According to CBS Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department arrested two men and a juvenile in connection with a string of armed robberies at T-Mobile stores. Detectives tied the group to at least 15 armed robberies at different T-Mobile locations across the county.
CBS LA reports the arrests came after the group allegedly robbed a T-Mobile store in Cudahy. Detectives arrested them as they ran out of the store and recovered about $13,000 in phones, tablets, smartwatches and cash. Deputies said they found more phones believed to be from other robberies in the getaway vehicle, along with ski masks, gloves and a handgun. The two adults are due in court on Oct. 1.
These are allegations. Nobody has been convicted.
Why stores like this get targeted
Phone stores carry what robbers want: small, valuable, easy-to-resell products, often in a compact space with a small staff. A crew that has done this before will pick stores that look easy, where the door is wide open, the staff is busy, and valuable stock is within reach.
The goal of prevention isn't to win a confrontation. It's to make your store look like more trouble than it's worth, long before anyone walks in with a plan.
How retail businesses reduce the risk
None of this guarantees anything. Each step makes a store a harder target.
- A trained, visible presence at the door. A person who greets everyone who comes in, makes eye contact, and pays attention sends a clear message: people here notice things. That's the idea behind "psychology, not intimidation". Attention does more than size.
- Controlled entry. Some stores use a single entrance, a buzzer or appointment system at high-risk hours, or a staff member stationed at the door. Fewer ways in means fewer surprises.
- Keep high-value stock off the floor. Display models, locked cases, and inventory kept in a back room reduce what can be grabbed in seconds.
- Train staff to notice scoping. Crews often look before they act. Watch for repeat visits with no purchase, questions about closing time or staffing, people who study the cameras or the back door, and cars that sit outside for a long time. Staff should know how to write it down and who to tell.
- Cameras that capture faces at the entrance. A camera at eye level by the door, plus a visible monitor, tells people they're being recorded from the moment they walk in.
- Mind the edges of the day. Opening, closing, and deliveries are when doors are open and staff are distracted. Keep at least two people on for those times when you can.
If it happens anyway
Comply, don't resist, and call 911 once it's safe. Your staff and customers matter more than any merchandise. Afterward, write down what you remember and preserve your camera footage for investigators.
Where GOLDNBEAR fits
GOLDNBEAR SECURITY is a veteran-owned private security company based in Downtown Los Angeles, with offices in Santa Monica and Downey (CA BSIS PPO 120234). We help retail businesses with the prevention side: door presence, staff awareness, and store layouts that make a location a harder target. Learn more about our retail security services, or read about our prevention-first method.
Want this handled before it happens? Free quote, 24/7. GOLDNBEAR Security, (213) 864-7178. Or email ceo@goldnbearsecurity.com · Contact.
Prevention-first security. Psychology, not intimidation.
FAQ
Is this article reporting convictions?
No. Per CBS Los Angeles, the people involved were arrested and face allegations. Nobody has been convicted in the reporting we cite.
What should staff do if a robbery happens anyway?
Comply, don't resist, and call 911 once it's safe. Then document what you remember and preserve camera footage for investigators.
Where can I learn about GOLDNBEAR retail coverage?
See our retail and shopping center security page.