San Diego

In his second robbery in a week, a man whom police have dubbed the “Walk-to-the-Back Bandit” robbed a pet supply store Thursday night of about $900, police said.

The bandit is believed to be involved in as many as 4 dozen holdups in San Diego County since Dec. 11, police spokesman Bill Robinson said. He usually selects a business in which a woman is working alone, he said.

As in past robberies, the bandit Thursday walked into the Petco Animal Supplies store in the 9000 block of Mira Mesa Boulevard at about 7:30 p.m. He approached a woman clerk, displayed a handgun in his waistband and demanded money, Robinson said. Once he had the money, he told her to go to the back of the store and fled on foot.

The bandit, who robbed the Lubey Beauty and Barber Supply store in San Diego on March 17 for less than $100, has hit small businesses in East San Diego, La Mesa, North City West and El Cajon, Robinson said.

The bandit was described as being in his mid-30s, 5-foot-7, with brown hair and a tan complexion. He was wearing sunglasses, a blue baseball hat, a blue jacket and blue jeans during Thursday’s robbery, police said.