DUO RESCUED FROM ROBBERS DEPUTIES ARREST 2 TEENAGE SUSPECTS.

Byline: Charles F. Bostwick Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Sheriff's deputies rescued an elderly couple kidnapped from their home at gunpoint early Friday by two teenage intruders.

When sheriff's deputies stopped the car in which the elderly couple were being driven through Palmdale, their captors ran, but two Palmdale boys ages 16 and 17 were arrested later.

``It remains under investigation, but we believe they were going to go to the bank and make a withdrawal out of the ATM,'' Sgt. Brian Jones said.

The teens had tried unsuccessfully to carjack a motorist shortly before 3 a.m. Friday, then minutes later forced their way into the couple's home, robbed them and ordered them into the couple's car.

Alerted by the motorist about the carjacking attempt, deputies were looking for the would-be carjackers when they saw the elderly couple's car driving without its headlights.

The deputies noticed the car's occupants were two teenagers with shaved heads and an elderly couple, and decided it look suspicious at 3:20 a.m.

When the deputies turned on their patrol car's red lights, the car stopped and the two teenagers got out and ran, deputies said.

One suspect was captured quickly when he was spotted in another vehicle leaving an apartment complex in the 4100 block of East Avenue R. The boy had asked someone in the complex to give him a ride, and a deputy saw him ducking down in the backseat as the car passed.

The second suspect was captured several hours later inside a mobile home park near Avenue R and 45th Street East, following a search by a sheriff's helicopter and police dogs.

Deputies said they found a pellet gun and a knife that had been used by the robbers.

The boys were being held without bail at Challenger Youth Detention Facility in Lancaster on suspicion of kidnapping, robbery and carjacking.

The elderly couple's names were withheld for their protection, deputies said. The suspects' names were withheld because of their age.

Jones said he didn't know why the intruders picked the couple's home in the 4100 block of Saddleback Road, which is less than a block from where the carjacking attempt occurred.

One boy knocked on the couple's door, and when the man opened it he pointed a handgun at him and forced his way inside. The other boy then joined him inside and they demanded money and valuables, deputies said.

Not satisfied with their take, the teens ordered the couple into their car and drove off.

The carjacking had been attempted when a motorist stopped at the Avenue R-40th Street East intersection, deputies said. A teen pointed a gun at the motorist through his window, but the motorist had his door locked.