RivCo Serial Restaurant Robbery Suspect Behind Bars: Sheriff

PERRIS, CA — A 47-year-old man suspected in a series of Perris-area armed robberies of restaurants this week was behind bars Friday.

Vicente Aranda of Sun City was arrested Wednesday evening on suspicion of robbery and possessing a controlled substance, according to inmate records. He was booked into the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta, where he remains held on a $120,000 bail bond.

The Perris sheriff's station Robbery Burglary Suppression Team began working Tuesday on a series of armed robberies at several restaurants in Perris that had begun Monday, according to Sgt. Dave Tinker of the Riverside County Sheriff's Station.

"Video surveillance revealed the same suspect committed all three armed robberies by brandishing a handgun and demanding money from the registers before fleeing in a white sedan," Tinker wrote in a statement. "RBST was able to obtain a license plate of the suspect vehicle."

Around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, the Riverside Sheriff Aviation Unit and sheriffs deputies assisted and were able to find the vehicle near Rider Street and Carroll Street in Mead Valley, according to Tinker. After a short pursuit, the driver pulled over and surrendered.

Aranda was subsequently taken into custody and a search warrant was served on his vehicle, where a handgun and other evidence connecting him to the robberies were allegedly found, Tinker said.

Anyone with information on the robberies was asked to call RBST Investigator Rooker of the sheriff's department dispatch at 951-776-1099 or the Perris sheriff's station at 951-210-1000.