RivCo Robbery Spree Suspect Freed On $150K Bond

BANNING, CA — A 24-year-old man suspected of a series of armed robberies throughout Riverside was out of custody Thursday on a $150,000 bond.

Nicholas Robert Lopez Jr. was arrested last week on suspicion of multiple counts of robbery following a months-long Riverside Police Department investigation.

Lopez posted bail Monday and was released from the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.

According to Riverside police Officer Ryan Railsback, the alleged robbery series began in June and continued until Dec. 29, when a Family Dollar store in the 9100 block of Magnolia Avenue was held up.

"The suspect entered the store and selected an item, then produced a firearm and demanded money from the register before fleeing the scene," Railsback said.

He said that detectives were able to confirm that the same individual was allegedly responsible for robberies at Family Dollar outlets on Main Street and Tyler Street, as well as a Circle K in the 2300 block of Interchange Street.

No one was injured during the holdups.

With assistance from the U.S. Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force, Lopez was located and taken into custody without incident on First Street during the evening of Dec. 29, Railsback said.

According to court records, he has prior convictions for carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle and driving on a suspended license.