Two suspects are being sought for a violent street robbery that occurred on April 30 in the parking lot of a former Bank of America branch at the southwest corner of Wilshire Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.

A victim was assaulted and robbed in the parking lot of a vacant bank branch building at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and La Brea Avenue. (photo by Edwin Folven)

An unidentified man who police said was in his 60s was assaulted and robbed at approximately 11 p.m. as he was returning to his vehicle in the parking lot. Two African American male suspects allegedly approached him from behind and struck the victim in the head with a baseball bat. Witnesses provided police with a description of the suspects.

“They hit him before he knew it. He was struck in the back of the head and lost consciousness,” said Det. Ryan Moreno, with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Wilshire Division. “He was carrying a bag, and they probably saw that. Most likely [they were driving by], or waiting in the parking lot. He definitely wasn’t followed.”

Moreno said “good Samaritans” called 911. Police searched the surrounding neighborhood, but could not locate the suspects.

The victim parked in the lot and walked a short distance to visit a friend at a nearby residence, the detective said. He walked back from the location with a bag containing electronics that was stolen during the robbery.

The victim suffered severe head trauma, cuts and abrasions, and was taken by paramedics to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Moreno said his condition was not life threatening, but the victim is undergoing extensive treatment for his injuries.

Police are interviewing witnesses and plan to review video surveillance footage from the area. One of the suspects was wearing a gray sweatshirt. They are believed to have fled the scene in a silver crossover SUV.

Moreno said no similar incidents have occurred in the area recently, and he believes it was a crime of opportunity.

The Bank of America branch closed last week, and the property is in the process of being sold to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) to be used as a construction staging area for the Purple Line subway. Parking in the lot had been allowed at night when the branch was closed, but the lot is now closed to the public, Bank of America spokeswoman Colleen Haggerty said. Chains have been placed across the Wilshire Boulevard and La Brea Avenue driveways to prevent access.

Metro construction relations manager Kasey Shuda said Metro will not take possession of the property until the end of the month. However, security personnel from Metro visited the site following the robbery to ensure there is lighting in the lot, and plans call for a fence to go up soon around the property.

Ken Hixon, vice president of the Miracle Mile Residential Association (MMRA), said the robbery has caused concern in the neighborhood, but the consensus is that it is an isolated incident.

“It as an unusually violent robbery. We have them, but certainly not frequently,” Hixon said.

Hixon said the MMRA would be working with Metro and the LAPD to watch the site. People are warned to be cautions while walking alone in the area, especially at night.

Anyone with information about the robbery is urged to call Wilshire Division robbery detectives at (213)922-8217.