Suspect held in robbery series

Moreno Valley man allegedly held up fast-food restaurants and carjacked vehicles, police say

A 29-year-old Moreno Valley man was arrested by Riverside police at his home after investigators tied him to a string of fast-food restaurant robberies, including two cases in which he stole employees’ vehicles, authorities said Saturday.

Gabriel Molina was arrested on Jan. 27 in the 24000 block of Myers Avenue in Moreno Valley after he allegedly committed an armed robbery in that city, Riverside police spokesman Ryan Railsback said.

Police also tied Molina to armed robberies at two Baker’s fast food restaurants, a Del Taco and three others in Riverside from June 1 through Dec. 29, Railsback said.

All six robberies played out in similar fashion, police said.

The suspect entered the business in the morning, brandished a handgun and demanded money from the cash registers and the safe.

He then forced the employees into a back room before fleeing the area, Railsback said.

In at least two of the robberies, the suspect forced one of the employees to hand over their car keys and the suspect fled in their cars. Those robberies took place on June 30 at a Baker’s in the 3500 block of Adams Street and on Nov. 25 at a Del Taco in the 9000 block of Arlington Avenue, Railsback said.

How much cash the suspect got in total was not made public.

Detectives had assistance from the Crime Analysis Unit in identifying Molina as the suspect. After recognizing patterns, that unit suggested other restaurants for officers to stake out in hopes of catching the suspect, Railsback said.

Surveillance video also helped in identifying Molina, he said.

Molina was booked on suspicion of six counts of armed robbery, two kidnapping counts, three counts of carjacking, assault with a deadly weapon and weapons charges, inmate records show. He was being held on $250,000 bail.