Fullerton police suspect Pico Rivera man in string of robberies

FULLERTON -- A stakeout at a Fullerton grocery store paid off when police caught a Pico Rivera man suspected of robbing the business for at least the third time this year, a sergeant said Thursday.

Demetres Delvon Mitchell, 28, was being held in the city jail on suspicion of armed robbery, Fullerton police Sgt. Andrew Goodrich said.

Investigators staked out HR Market, 253 S. Magnolia Ave., for about 200 hours before Mitchell allegedly struck again about 8 p.m. Wednesday, Goodrich said.

Mitchell -- as he is also accused of doing in January and March -- hopped a counter and grabbed cash out of the register, Goodrich said.

"He's a self-service kind of robber -- he doesn't wait for the clerk to give him the money," the sergeant said.

Police were waiting for the suspect, who was in the store for about 45 seconds, when he burst out the door, Goodrich said.

Investigators from throughout Orange and Los Angeles counties were going over the evidence in the HR Market robberies to see if Mitchell was involved in other stickups, Goodrich said.

The suspect's method of operation appears to match multiple robberies in the Southland, Goodrich said.