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Palmdale man arrested for robbing elderly victims

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PALMDALE, Calif. — An 18-year-old Palmdale man suspected of robbing 93-year-old and 64-year-old victims was expected to be arraigned in Lancaster today.

Terrill Keith Clem was arrested Wednesday when deputies found him hiding in some bushes a block away from the 1600 block of East Avenue R-3 in Palmdale, where he allegedly snatched a woman’s purse that was being held by the owner’s 64-year-old husband, said Deputy Jodi Wolfe of the Los Angeles County sheriff’s Palmdale Station. The man was about to take his wife to the doctor when he was robbed, she said.

The man chased Clem, but lost sight of him, according to Wolfe, who said deputies recovered the woman’s purse and its contents.

Investigators also linked Clem to a violent robbery that happened on Monday around 10 a.m. in the 37700 block of Rudall Avenue, where a man who was washing his truck in his driveway was approached by two males who assaulted him and took his wallet, Wolfe said. The victim suffered injured ribs and a cut to his chin, she said.

“During the investigation of the July 24th robbery, it appeared suspect Clem matched the description of one of the suspects in the robbery of the 93-year-old victim,” Wolfe said. “During an interrogation, Clem confessed to being involved in both robberies. The second suspect is still at large in that case.”

Detectives are investigating Clem’s possible involvement in other robberies targeting older victims, Wolfe said.

The outstanding suspect was described as a male between 16 and 18, she said.

Clem was booked on suspicion of robbery at the Palmdale Station, where he was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail, according to sheriff’s online booking records. He was due to be arraigned at the Antelope Valley Courthouse in Lancaster, Wolfe said.

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