Robbery Suspect to Clerk: “Times Are Tough”

The suspect has been dubbed the "I'm Sorry Bandit" and may be connected to at least six recent robberies at local gas stations

San Diego police are looking into a string of armed robberies at several gas stations overnight and are trying to determine whether they’re all related to the same culprit, a suspect dubbed the “I’m Sorry Bandit.”

At least six robberies happened overnight with the most recent occurring at an AM/PM located at 8820 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. in Kearny Mesa.

There, officers say the suspect told a gas station clerk "I'm sorry to do this. Times are tough, not going to hurt anybody."

The female clerk told police the gunman walked in just before 2 a.m. The man then displayed a gun, demanded cash and left.

Three robberies happened along Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, one on Balboa Avenue and another on Carmel Mountain Road.

In some cases, the suspect brought canned drinks to the counter and asked for cigarettes.

Another robbery in Rancho Penasquitos may be connected.

Officers say a man with a gun robbed a Mobile gas station on Rancho Penasquitos Boulevard around 8 p.m. Tuesday.

No arrests have been made in the string of robberies.

In all of the robberies, the suspect has been described as a man between 28 and 32 years old, between 5-foot-6 and 6-feet-tall. In many of the cases, the robber was wearing a white shirt, dark baseball cap and black pants. In some cases, he was also wearing gloves. He displayed a handgun every time, according to police.

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