Officials have arrested four men in San Diego’s North County they say are connected to a series of “takeover” armed robberies that involved pointing guns at victims and tying them up.
The incidents happened at the GameStop at 2535 Vista Way in Oceanside on August 5, a GameStop in Vista in July, the Oceanside Pharmacy at 3601 Vista Way on July 10 and a Beauty Supply Store in Vista in March.
In the process of robbing the stores, suspects tied up the victims and moved them around to other rooms or offices in the building while pointing weapons at them.
Oceanside Police Department’s SWAT team and several other units working with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said they served four search warrants at 5 a.m. Wednesday morning in connection with the crimes on the 3400 block of Los Mochis Way in Oceanside, the 400 block of Craven Road in Oceanside, the 200 block of Avalon Drive in Vista and the 1800 block of Christi Drive in Vista.
When at the residences, officials found evidence connecting the men to the crimes.
John Gonzales, 21, of Vista, Jaleil Thomas, 21, of Vista, Timothy Williamson, 20, of Oceanside were arrested for armed robbery, burglary, possession of stolen of property and conspiracy to commit robbery. Lucas Gravelle, 20, of Oceanside, was arrested for possession of stolen property.
The investigation is ongoing.
