Two men who pretended to be sheriff's deputies while trying to rob Southern California homes got a shock when they broke into the home a former Los Angeles sheriff's deputy while he was inside, officials said.
The men donned white ski masks when they broke into two homes in separate Lancaster neighborhoods within a matter of minutes Saturday night, according to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.
In the first attempted robbery, the men falsely identified themselves as sheriff’s deputies to a man and his son. Upon entering the home on Avenue K-15, they forced the two down onto the ground, but then left the home, officials said.
In the second home invasion just moments later, the men unknowingly forced their way into the home of a former deputy of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Lancaster Station.
The former deputy fired shots at the men but missed, officials said. The two fled the scene and are still being sought by authorities.
“It is scary, because you never know how safe you are,” neighbor Alice Baldus said.
Officials warned residents to always question people identifying themselves as sheriff’s deputies or police officers.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
“If it’s law enforcement, they’re going to have identifiers, like a uniform on (and badge),” said Los Angeles Sheriff’s Lt. Byron Wainie. “I would caution people to opening the door to total strangers.”
The two men did not make it away with any belongings from the homes, but officials are still investigating with hopes to catch the pair.
