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LEAPS helps catch another Walmart thief

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This is a screenshot of the video footage that LEAPS captured of a strong arm robbery suspect running through the parking lot of the east Lancaster Walmart. LEAPS helped guide deputies to the suspect and he was arrested without incident. (Image courtesy LASD)
This is a screenshot of the video footage LEAPS captured of a strong arm robbery suspect running through the parking lot after stealing from the east Lancaster Walmart Friday afternoon. LEAPS helped guide deputies to the suspect, and he was arrested without incident. (Image courtesy LASD)

LANCASTER – A thief who stole speakers from Walmart and fought with an employee before running off was captured a short time later, thanks to Lancaster’s Law Enforcement Aerial Platform System (L.E.A.P.S.), authorities said.

The incident happened around 5 p.m. Friday (Sept. 20) at the Walmart Supercenter at 1731 E Avenue J, according to Lancaster Community Relations deputy Miguel Ruiz.

A man, later identified as 22-year-old Robert Babcock, was seen taking two stereo speakers from the store, and he was approached by a Walmart Loss Prevention officer, Ruiz stated.

Babcock allegedly began to fight with the employee and then ran from the location, Ruiz stated.

LEAPS was launched on August 2011.
LEAPS was launched on August 2011.

Lancaster deputies responded to Walmart for the strong-arm robbery call, but prior to their arrival, the “Eye in the Sky” spotted the suspect.

The surveillance plane captured video footage of Babcock running through the shopping center’s parking lot, Ruiz stated

With assistance from the Sheriff’s Department Aero Bureau Helicopter, both resources were able to guide ground deputies to the suspect’s location, according to Ruiz.

Babcock was captured without incident and arrested on suspicion of commercial burglary. He was booked at the Lancaster Station Jail on $20,000 bond.

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Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

22 comments for "LEAPS helps catch another Walmart thief"

  1. What a joke.What a joke.$90,000.00 a month to catch a shoplifter?$90,000.00 a month to catch a shoplifter?What will $180,000.00 get us a toaster theif?What will $180,000.00 get us a toaster theif?Frank and Rex are laughing all the way to the bank.Frank and Rex are laughing all the way to the bank.On our dime.On our dime.Lots of dimes.Lots of our dimes? For a piece of crap.For a piece of crap.We already pay for the Sherriffs helicopter.We already pay for the Sherriffs helicopter.$10,800,000.00 a year for 10 years for LEAPS.$10,800,000.00 a year for work years for LEAPS.We could hire Sherriffs with that money.We could hire Sherriffs with that money.We need more Sherriffs.We need more Sherriffs. We do not need LEAPS.We do not need LEAPS.

  2. Whatching Channel 3 News by the time the camera from the plane was recording the cops had the guy already and cop car’s around him! Hopefully it sends a strong message to criminals that they will be caught. But the cost and invasion of privacy by our citizen may not justify LEAPS.

    Looking forward to independent study by an outside party on the program. Will see.

  3. WOW THANK GOD THE CORPORATIONS ARE GETTING FREE LOSS PREVENTION AT THE EXPENSE OF TAX PAYER DOLLARS !! DOWN WITH R. REX THE GUY IS A TYRANT AND HE’S USING YOUR MONEY TO TRY AND PREVENT PALMDALE’S ELECTION FOR THE SOLE REASON THAT HE GETS A BIG FAT GOVERNMENT PAYCHEC AT THE END OF IT ALL! LOOKS AT WHAT YALL VOTED FOR !

  4. Good for you Leaps!!
    I’ve posted this before; A Walmart employee told me they’ve let most of their security go.

    It may cost a lot to hire a security company but there are people who need jobs up here and with training at a security class, it will cost them less and they could pay them a decent wage.

    Also, we all need to be watching people and if you see someone about to steal, take their picture with your phone. Don’t approach them! Give that picture to the authorities. It’s also our responsibility to learn to be aware.

    • That’s hilarious. You will accomplish nothing while putting yourself in danger. The LASD does NOT want the pictures and no one needs to get the crap beat out of them for taking a picture of a possible thief. What are the cops gonna do with it? Delete!

  6. Ok, great. Where was the plane when the girl was chased by a pervert trying to get her into his car by Challenger and Ave K ? awhile back ? The plane seems to be going around in circles above that area all day. Ok BOYS, having fun up there ? I would rather have RANDY in the chopper checking it out. Hope my taxes help the city !!!!

    • Absolutely! I’ve lived here all my life and I’m disgusted with the turn of events up here. Since so much riff raff have moved up here, it’s not safe anymore. We need more police, neighbors need to get involved with their neighborhood watch.

      Both Mayors sit on their duff and just don’t care about their citizens. They just want to get on channel 3 and smile and look more of an idiot than they are.

      Parris and Ledford, do something and make a change or you most certainly will be out of a job!

    • I posted something agreeing with you but whoever is monitoring this site took it off.

      I didn’t cuss, use racial slurs or anything bad. And where’s the first amendment here?

      Anyway, I do agree.

  9. Oh I’m fully aware of Wal-Mart has. I was wondering why our $90,000 a month plane can’t capture video/images in better quality. Heck $90,000 a month is more than enough to fund a Sesna.

  10. This is the second thef in the last couple of months that LEAPS help capture a thief from Wal Mart.

    Start sending a bill to Wal Mart to help with the costs of LEAPS and not leave the cost to the taxpayer.

    I wonder how many shoplifters Wal Mart captures a month? Maybe the should get their own LEAPS plane to cover all the Wal Marts in the AV.

    • Maybe if they used it to catch a kidnapper, rapist, or murderer. But I don’t think they need to pull out this kind or resources to catch a store thief.

  13. Nice work! Having said that, the operational cost of LEAPS will never be outweighed by the crimes it helps to stop. Drain of tax dollars.

    • Not to mention that the video/picture quality is very substandard. With all that money, can they not integrate a Canon or Nikon video/picture capturing system that can provide clear images?

      • Walmart already has several of their own cameras pointed at the parking lot. Other pictures taken by Walmarts cameras and released are always crystal clear. I guess we don’t get to see those pictures.

        • Oh I’m fully aware of Wal-Mart has. I was wondering why our $90,000 a month plane can’t capture video/images in better quality. Heck $90,000 a month is more than enough to fund a Sesna.

      • The LEAPS image is on 18x zoom, probably a few Miles away and moving 3000 feet in the air. The WalMart cameras are all of 100 Yards away, 50 feet in the air and fixed to the building. It’s a whole world of difference to accomplish this task across town then it is to do it within a known area of control.
        This is a good example of the system being used in an efficient manner to supplement the LASD from the moment of the crime is reported to the moment deputies can reach the location. Many people would argue this time frame is invaluable for catching the suspect. Also maybe with enough of these kinds of arrests people around here will think twice about stealing from WalMart.