The OCSD gets its men: Suspected Laguna Hills iPads bandits caught

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA  - Today, at approximately 1 p.m., Timothy Lavert Bates, 25, Los Angeles, and Albert Fletcher Brown, Jr., 26, Hillcrest, were arrested in connection with an armed robbery at an AT&T store in the city of Laguna Niguel.  Bates and Brown were subsequently tracked and located at the Mariners Church in the city of Irvine approximately thirty minutes after the robbery occurred. 

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s (OCSD) department, Bates and Brown, Jr. are suspected in committing an armed robbery at the AT&T store in the 27000 block of La Paz Road.  The weapon used during the robbery was a silver handgun and the loss were iPhones and iPads.  

Albert Brown

Timothy Bates

Minutes prior to the armed robbery, a Toyota sedan was stolen from in front of a residence in the city of Laguna Hills.  Investigators later recovered the stolen vehicle near the scene of the robbery.  It is believed the recovered stolen vehicle was used by Bates and Brown, Jr. to flee the scene of the robbery. 

Orange County Sheriff’s investigators are attempting to determine if there are additional suspects and locate evidence in the crime.  Bates and Brown, Jr. have been booked for robbery at the Orange County Jail.  

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call Sheriff's investigators at (714) 647-7000.  Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or occrimestoppers.org.