Police: Transient suspected of robbing Banning businesses

BANNING (CNS) - A 37-year-old transient suspected of holding up two businesses in Banning was behind bars today.   

The suspect was arrested and booked into the Smith Correctional Facility Tuesday night on suspicion of armed robbery. Bail information was not immediately available.

According to the Banning Police Department, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, the suspect approached the counter of a Jack-in-the-Box restaurant at 6350 W. Ramsey St. and flashed what appeared to be a handgun, prompting staff to back away.

"The subject stole cash from one of the registers and fled on foot,'' police Capt. Brandon Smith said.  

Smith said patrol officers responded to restaurant employees' 911 calls and initiated a search of the area, based on descriptions, which indicated the suspect had "tattoos on his face.'' However, the bandit couldn't be located.   

Officers reviewed surveillance video from inside the eatery and confirmed the alleged robber's identity -- Smith said.   

The suspect was located less than three hours later and taken into custody without incident on West Beaumont Avenue.   

Smith said a replica pistol and cash from the robbery were seized.  

During the investigation, officers also tied him to a hold-up that occurred early Sunday morning at a Walgreens on North Highland Avenue, where a man matching the suspect's description threatened a clerk with what appeared to be a handgun, grabbing money from a register and running away, according to the captain.

The transient man was positively identified as the alleged perpetrator.   

No one was injured in either robbery.   

Background information on the suspect was unavailable.