Police makes arrest in armed robbery of mini marts
One of the suspects in a rash of convenience store armed robberies is in custody facing a $1 million bail, the Porterville Police Department reported.
One of the suspects in a rash of convenience store armed robberies is in custody facing a $1 million bail, the Porterville Police Department reported.
Since January, the Porterville Police Department has investigated several armed robberies at mini marts in Porterville. These robberies have occurred in the early morning and nighttime hours and typically involved multiple armed suspects who took thousands of dollars in cash before fleeing the scene.
Porterville PD detectives have been aggressively investigating these incidents and recently identified Alexis Moreno, 19, an identified gang member, as a suspect involved in the robberies at Joe’s Westside Market on Jan. 18, Shop and Save Market on May 4, and Ranch Market on May 25 when shots were fired. In all three robberies, Moreno entered the store with other unidentified suspects where they encountered employees and customers. They held the victims at gunpoint as they took cash before fleeing.
During the most recent incident at Ranch Market, Moreno is also suspected of shooting at a clerk who fled the store upon seeing the suspects enter. The clerk was not struck.
Moreno was already in custody in the Tulare County Jail on unrelated weapons charges and has been additionally charged in all three incidents.
This case continues to be under investigation and detectives are anticipating additional arrests. Anyone who has information in regards to these incidents is asked to contact Det. Gray or Det. Cardoza at 782-7400.