Deputies jailed an alleged serial robber Thursday after he robbed a delivery man, stealing both cash and pizza, authorities said.
Jesus Rivas, 38, of Whittier, was arrested on suspicion of robbery following the heist, which took place shortly before 2:30 p.m. in the 8400 block of Bradwell Avenue in an unincorporated county area just west of Whittier, Sgt. Ernest Bille of the Los Angeles County sheriff’s Pico Rivera Station said.
He’s also suspected in three other similar robberies reported in the area over the past week, Lt. Joe Mendoza said in a written statement.
In the most recent incident, a Pizza Hut delivery driver was approached by a robber, later identified as Rivas, who brandished what was later determined to be a fake handgun and demanded the victim’s money, as well as the pizza he was delivering, Bille said.
The delivery man turned over two pizzas and about $40 before the robber ran off, officials said. The victim returned to work and called 9-1-1.
“Deputies found a person matching the description near Pioneer (Boulevard) and Slauson (Avenue),” Bille said. The victim identified Rivas as the robber.
A realistic-looking BB gun was found inside a trash can near the convenience store where Rivas was found, Mendoza said, and money believed have been stolen in the crime was recovered, along with the pizzas.
“The suspect is believed to be responsible for three other similar robberies which occurred within Pico Rivera Station jurisdiction within the past week,” Mendoza said.
The alleged spree began about 10 p.m. Dec. 26 when a pizza delivery driver was robbed at Serapis and Slauson avenues in Pico Rivera, Lt. Andrew Meyer said.
A second pizza delivery driver was robbed about 10:20 p.m. Dec. 27 in the 8600 block of Pioneer Boulevard in an unincorporated county area just west of Whittier, Meyer said. And Rivas is accused of robbing a third pizza delivery driver just after 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve just around the corner in the 8500 block of Shadyside Drive.
Cash was stolen in all the crimes, and pizza was stolen as well in all but one of the robberies, officials said.
According to county booking records, Rivas was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail pending his scheduled arraignment Monday in Downey Superior Court.