LINK SOUGHT IN ROBBERIES OF TRADER JOE'S.

Byline: Amy Raisin Staff Writer

Two men suspected of robbing a Trader Joe's market are scheduled to be arraigned today, as authorities investigate a possible link to more than a dozen similar robberies in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

The two suspects, Lemar Payne, 19, Gregory Johnson, 23, both of Los Angeles, as well as a 15-year-old juvenile from Los Angeles, were arrested Monday night after a brief pursuit on the 101 Freeway.

The robbery occurred about 8:50 p.m. at the specialty market on Carmen Drive, where two people entered the store and forced the manager to open the safe. One wore a ski mask and was armed with a small-caliber handgun, authorities said.

Minutes later, Ventura County sheriff's deputies spotted a car fitting the description of the getaway car - a dark-colored Dodge - and pursued it southbound on the freeway.

Two suspects ran from the car on Wendy Drive in Newbury Park and were captured by a police-dog unit within about 20 minutes. Officers said the two surrendered only after one was bitten by the dog.

Ventura County detectives are working with the Los Angeles Police Department to determine if the three suspects are the same ones who robbed Trader Joe's markets in Eagle Rock and Rancho Palos Verdes earlier this month, as well as about 12 other stores in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

``The descriptions of the suspects and the robberies sound kind of similar,'' said Eric Nishimoto, a spokesman for the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

Nishimoto declined to say how much money was taken Monday.

A Trader Joe's spokesman could not be reached for comment.

Payne and Johnson were being held at the Ventura County Jail in lieu of of $250,000 each. The juvenile was being held without bail at Ventura County Juvenile Hall after receiving treatment for the dog bite.