Up to $1,000 Reward Offered
Investigators from the San Diego Police Department's Robbery Unit are asking for the public’s help in locating two suspects wanted for a commercial armed robbery of a Savers 99 Cents Store located in the Mid-City area of San Diego.
On December 13, 2017, at approximately 1:30 p.m., Irene Lee and Ariel Burrus walked into the Savers 99 Cents Store located at 4129 University Avenue, in San Diego. Lee shoplifted several items while Burrus acted as a lookout for her. Both suspects went to the checkout counter and Lee pretended as if she was going to pay for just one item. An employee blocked the exit of the store and demanded that Lee show him what she had taken. Neither Lee nor Burrus would cooperate. Burrus tried shoving her way past the employee, but was unsuccessful. Burrus then pulled out a small caliber revolver from the back of her waistband and pointed it at the back of the employee’s head.
Burrus cocked back the hammer of the gun, and told the employee “let us go.” The employee was able to turn, tackle Burrus to the ground, and took the gun away from her. Lee tried kicking the employee while he was on the ground. Burrus demanded the gun back and told the employee that she will come back and kill him. The employee held onto the gun and both suspects left the store before police officers arrived. Investigators were able to identify both suspects from evidence recovered at the scene.
Ariel Burrus
DOB: 9/18/1992 (25)
Black female
5’4” tall and weighs 140 lbs.
Irene Lee
DOB: 10/31/1995 (22)
Black female
5’8” tall and weighs 130 lbs
Anyone with information on the location of the suspects is asked to call the SDPD’s Robbery Unit at (619) 531-2299 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477. Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest in this case. Visit the Crime Stoppers website at www.sdcrimestoppers.org for more information on how to send anonymous web and mobile app tips.
- Media inquiries about this case can be directed to SDPD Robbery Lt. Eric Hays at (619) 533-5752 or email at ehays@pd.sandiego.gov.
- Media inquiries about Crime Stoppers can be directed to Officer Mark Herring at (619) 531-1500 or email at msherring@pd.sandiego.gov or Deputy Adriana Uribe at (619) 531-1547 or email at adriana.uribe@sdsheriff.org .