Irvine Police arrest 49-year-old Benjamin Laubbacher following an attempted robbery at the Irvine Spectrum Center and a robbery of a grocery store cashier.
On Monday, March 1, shortly after 7:00 p.m., an employee of the Adidas retail store at the Irvine Spectrum Center reported an attempted robbery. The suspect entered the store and presented a note demanding money from the register. When the employee told him there was no cash, the suspect threatened he had a Taser and demanded money a second time. When the employee repeated there was no cash, the suspect fled the location in a silver Ford Expedition.
A few hours later, an employee of Albertsons on Jeffrey Road reported a robbery just occurred. The suspect came through the checkout line and demanded money from the cashier. When the cashier refused, the suspect lifted his shirt and displayed a handgun in his waistband. He threatened to shoot the cashier if he did not follow his demands. The cashier opened the register and the suspect reached in, took the cash, and fled.
An officer responding to the robbery saw a silver Ford Expedition leaving the area that was similar to the vehicle from the earlier attempted robbery at the Irvine Spectrum. The officer stopped the vehicle and the driver was positively identified as the suspect in both crimes. A loaded handgun was recovered from the vehicle along with other evidence linking the suspect to the crimes.
Laubbacher is suspected of committing an additional robbery in Irvine on February 16, 2021.
Anyone with information should contact Irvine Police Detective Gavin Hudson at (949)724-7168.