Armed Robbers Make Off With Pot And Cash

Three armed robbers are being sought for stealing money and drugs from a Lakeland Village home whose owner formerly operated a medical marijuana operation at the location.

The robbery happened shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday in the 33000 block of Blackwell Boulevard, at a house from which the now-closed Club Med collective was operated, according to Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Todd Pauling.

He said the operation was shuttered last month after county code enforcement officers identified undisclosed violations.

The owner, who resides at the location, told deputies that the suspects showed up unannounced and asked to come inside, which he allowed, recognizing the trio as prior customers.

"Once inside, one of the suspects brandished a sawed-off shotgun, and another suspect was armed with a chrome semi-automatic handgun,'' Pauling said.

"The suspects took $650 in cash and one pound of marijuana with a street value of $4,000. As the suspects left the location, one shot at the house with the shotgun, breaking a window.''

The victim was not injured. Deputies searched the area but failed to locate the bandits. Anyone with information is asked to call the Lake Elsinore sheriff's station at (951) 245-3300. --City News Service