Teen banned from mall steals tip jar with partner, authorities say

Two 16-year-old boys were arrested Friday after allegedly stealing a Starbucks tip jar containing $16.16, police said.

One of the boys -- whose names weren’t released because they are minors -- had been banned earlier that day from the Americana at Brand after he allegedly tried to steal a woman’s purse at Granville Cafe.

At the Starbucks in the 100 block of South Brand Boulevard, the boys entered about 4:34 p.m. and asked for water, police said. When the manager turned around, the boys took the tip jar and ran out.

The manager ran after the boys, who left the money behind when she confronted them, according to police.

But the same boy who was banned from the Americana returned, slapped the jar out of her hand and challenged her before turning around and running away again.

Police stopped the boys as they were running on Louise Street, just north of Colorado Street.

The boy who was banned from the Americana was arrested on suspicion of robbery and burglary, police said. He is banned from the Americana for a year, according to reports.

The second boy, who is on probation for burglary, was arrested in connection with the burglary, police said. Both denied stealing the tip jar.

-- Veronica Rocha, Times Community News