Robbers Wound Car Dealer

The owner of a Hermosa Beach auto sales firm was listed in serious condition at County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center on Wednesday after being shot and robbed in his auto showroom Tuesday, the second robbery in his business this week.

Thomas Taffet, of Redondo Beach, was wounded in both legs at about 5:50 p.m. when he was confronted by three men in the showroom of T T Exclusive Auto on Pacific Coast Highway at 3rd Street.

Redondo Beach Police had no suspects in custody, but Detective Lance Jaakola said the robbery was identical to one in the showroom Monday afternoon by three men of similar description. In both incidents, Jaakola said, the robbers were three black men in their 20s, and at least one had a handgun. Both times Taffet was robbed of jewelry, and both times the three men fled in a car parked nearby.

After the shooting Tuesday, several witnesses told police that the robbers ran to a car parked on 3rd Street and sped away eastbound.

Jaakola said he couldn’t confirm the two incidents were related because police investigators had not talked to Taffet.