Buena Park : 3 Robberies Attributed to Man in Checkout Line

An armed robber who poses as a customer in checkout lines is believed to be responsible for three robberies this week of Buena Park stores, police said.

Based on the suspect’s description and the similarity of the crimes, police believe the same man has probably taken about $2,000 in cash from a supermarket and two drug stores this week, Police Lt. Gary Rooney said.

In all three incidents, a tall dark-haired man in his late 20s, wearing blue jeans and a denim jacket, waited in line with customers and then displayed a pistol and demanded money, he said.

The first robbery occurred about 8 p.m. Monday at a Sav-On-Drugs at 5450 Beach Blvd. where the robber took $1,000. Customers who were in line behind the man did not even know a robbery had taken place, police said.

Tuesday, the man robbed an Alpha Beta supermarket at 6991 Lincoln Ave., taking $300 just before 6 p.m. About an hour later, he hit a Sav-On-Drugs next door for $400.