Two city video stores robbed

Four people were recently arrested on suspicion of robbing both the Hollywood Video and Blockbuster Video stores in Moorpark.

According to police reports, Matthew Carlson, 22, a transient, entered the Hollywood Video store at 275 W. Los Angeles Ave. at 3:20 p.m. March 19 and removed a Play Station video console from the display case. Carlson ran out of the store with the console, and the store manager chased him.

The manager caught up to Carlson, and they both fell to the ground. When the manager took the console, Carlson hit her with his fist and demanded that the manager give him the item. When Carlson couldn't take the console, he fled to a waiting vehicle, which drove east on Los Angeles Avenue.

Carlson was next seen entering the Blockbuster Video store at 559 E. Los Angeles Ave. and again took a Play Station console from the shelf. Carlson ran out of the store, and the manager followed.

Outside the store, Justin Stewart, 21, of Thousand Oaks stepped in front of the store manager and placed his hand in his pants pocket. The manager believed that Stewart had a weapon and returned to the store to call the Sheriff 's Department.

Deputies arrived and found the vehicle and the suspects in the Moorpark Marketplace parking lot.

Witnesses from both stores identified Carlson and Stewart as suspects. Mark Bacerra, 20, of Moorpark, was identified as the driver of the vehicle. Mary Elizabeth Eckert, 19, of Thousand Oaks, was identified as a passenger in the vehicle.

All four suspects were arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit a robbery, robbery and acting in concert for the furtherance of a gang.

The suspects were all booked into the Ventura County jail with bail set at $100,000 or higher.