Yakima police say a couple accused of threatening a man with a knife and then stealing his car could be connected to a string of robberies around the state.
The Hocus Pocus Mini Mart on Nob Hill Boulevard was one of several stores robbed around the Yakima Valley in the last month. The robberies went unsolved until this week. 19-year-old Ivan Velazquez-Sanchez and a 14-year-old girl were arrested after a stolen car was recovered in King County. According to police, Sanchez stole that car from a Yakima man. He allegedly held a knife to the man's throat and demanded the car and all the money he had in his pocket.
Thursday, police arrested three more suspects in addition to Sanchez, all ATTEND Sunnyside High School. Police believe the group robbed two convenience stores in Yakima, and one store each in Sunnyside and Toppenish.
Police say that Sanchez and the others also robbed two stores in the Seattle area. All of the suspects face first degree robbery charges.
Agencies around the valley, including the Yakima Police Department, Sunnyside Police Department and Toppenish Police Department, are all hailing these arrests as a great show of police teamwork.

More From News Talk KIT