Law enforcement seeks help identifying additional potential robbery victims of Joshua Benbrook at UCI or Fullerton

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – Law enforcement seeks help identifying additional potential robbery victims of Joshua Benbrook, arrested for a series of robberies in Irvine and Fullerton.

According to announcement by the City of Irvine, at approximately 6:20 pm on May 23, 2016, a UCI student was walking across the Watson Bridge on campus and was contacted by Benbrook, who implied he was armed.  Benbrook instructed the student to walk to a nearby ATM to withdraw cash.  Benbrook fled the scene on foot.

A few minutes later, Benbrook approached a male victim outside a restaurant on the UCI campus.  Benbrook demanded money and threatened to harm the victim if he did not comply.  The victim enter the restaurant with Benbrook behind him, shouting at the victim from the doorway.  Benbrook fled the scene without any money.

Approximately five minutes later, a motorist was waiting for a tow truck  in the area of Culver Drive and University Drive.  Benbrook pulled up behind the disabled car and brandished a firearm from the glove box. Benbrook stole the victim’s wallet and cell phone and fled the scene.

As UCI issued a campus alert and Irvine Police Department (IPD)  began to investigate these incidents,  it was determined that the Fullerton Police Department was investigating a similar robbery in Fullerton

ON March 6, 2016 at approximately 2:50 am, Benbrook entered a convenience store in the 2700 block of West Orangethorp Ave.  He brandished a firearm and robbed the teller of food items and money, Benbrook was arrested by IPD leaving his home in Irvine May 24, 2016.

As the investigation is ongoing, the public is asked to call the FPD Detective Veronica Gardea at 714-738-6728, IPD Detective Victoria Hurtado or UCIPD Detective Sergeant Charles Chon at 949-824-5223 with additional information or who may have been a victim.