By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Authorities in St. John the Baptist Parish are investigating an armed robbery that occurred Friday night in the parking lot of a LaPlace shopping center, according to a Sheriff’s Office release.

Capt. Dane Clement, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office, said a 39-year-old Kenner woman and a 38-year-old Montz woman told deputies they were robbed at gunpoint by five men wearing masks around their faces. He said the incident took place around 10 p.m. in the 1100 block of East Airline Highway.

“While the women were talking in the rear parking lot of a business, the men approached and pointed handguns toward them,” Clement said.

Clement said one of the men grabbed a purse containing an undisclosed amount of cash from one of the victims. All five men then left the scene in a red colored Chrysler PT Crusier with body damage.

“The vehicle headed east on Airline Highway toward St. Charles Parish,” Clement said. “Detectives have alerted other law enforcement agencies in the area.”

Anyone with information regarding this incident should call St. John Detective Jerry Fountain at (985) 359-8769 or Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111.