Manhattan Beach Shoplifting Suspects Sought

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA -- Manhattan Beach police Wednesday sought public help to find two shoplifting suspects responsible for injuring a witness during their escape.

The crime occurred about 5:30 p.m. Jan. 4 at a Ralphs market at 2700 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach Police Sgt. Tim Zins said.

"A witness observed (the) female suspects shoplifting," Zins said. "When the suspects noticed they were being watched, they fled from the store."

The witness followed the women out of the store in order to see what vehicle they were getting into, Zins said.

"The suspects attempted to hide the vehicle's license plate by standing in front of it," Zins said. "One suspect became irate and struck the witness in the head with a metal club."

The suspects then fled in the vehicle, which was not described.

Police circulated a security photo of one of the women, and urged anyone with information on the crime to call officers at (310) 802-5171.

-- City News Service, photo courtesy of the MBPD