An unprecedented one man armed robbery spree hit Valley Center business starting Oct. 19, with the most recent hold-up occurring Oct. 26.
The first armed robbery actually occurred on Hwy 76 & I-15, near Pala, when a black man with a mask over his face, armed with a handgun robbed the Mobile station. The robbery occurred about 11 p.m. This crime is being handled by the Fallbrook office of the Sheriff’s Dept.
About five hours later, this time at Rick’s gas in VC, apparently the same man, this time with a T-shirt covering the lower half of his face held up the clerk, taking about $200. He was also armed with a handgun.
On Sunday, Oct. 24, 9:30 p.m. apparently the same man robbed the Mobile gas station again.
On Monday, Oct. 25, 9 p.m. he robbed the Pala Vista Gas station. He got $300. This time there were two witnesses. Once again the suspect had a white T-shirt over his face.
On Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2:30 a.m., the same robber apparently hit Rick’s gas station again.
The same clerk was there, and he apparently remarked, “Oh, it’s you again.”
To which the robber responded. “Yeah, it’s me. Give me your money!” That time he got all of $80.
In all the robberies, the man was captured on security videocameras. However, no vehicle has been identified, although witnesses at the Pala Vista Gas Station did see the suspect climb into a vehicle, they couldn’t identify its type.
The suspect was not wearing gloves, but apparently he didn’t put his bare hands on the county.
“So, we don’t have much in the way of evidence right now. He’s in there for maybe a minute and half. It’s quick and out the door,” Sgt. Darrell Carr of the VC Sheriff’s substation told The Roadrunner.
“I can’t remember anything like this happening in Valley Center before,” he said. “Especially a series like this. Rick’s had a robbery a while back with a shotgun, but that’s not related to this.”
He added, “We looked at all the videos and it’s fairly obvious that it’s the same guy. It’s just a matter of getting ahold of him.”
If anyone who was at the markets in question on the times and dates mentioned who has information are asked to give Sgt. Carr at call at 751-4400. Ask for Darrell Carr
He’s in there for maybe a minute and half. it’s quick and out the door.
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An unrelated crime that occurred the same week was the burglary of Bear Valley Farm Supply Wednesday, about midnight.
According to Kim Laventure, manager/owner, an intruder smashed the glass doors and pried open the fire safe. The burglar took about $500 before the alarm brought someone to investigate.
The recovery from the Paradise fire has left most survivors behind, according to a survey conducted jointly by The Roadrunner and John Jackson of Valley Center’s Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
The survey, conducted entirely in Valley Center among fire survivors chosen at random to achieve statistical validity, was completed Oct. 25 by Jackson, assisted by Michelle Schied and Elaine Nolan.
The survey is based on County records of those who lost their homes, and so does not include the two Indian reservations, where fire damages were also extensive.
It shows the following:
• 90% of the families remain in overcrowded temporary housing.
• 60% plan to build. The rest are disposing of the property and moving elsewhere.
• Meeting County requirements is a major problem”
A. 23% have not cleared their property.
B. 15% cannot define their property boundaries.
C. Over 90% of the concrete pads need replacement.
D. 40% of septic tanks are usable (i.e. 60% can’t be used).
E. 30% have decided on the final plans for their replacement home.
F. 35% have started their County permit process (The deadline to apply to the County and have fees waived was Nov. 1).
• 10% of fire survivors have resolved their financial losses sufficiently to start the rebuilding process.
• 15% of those who lost their homes have sufficient funds to return to their normal style of living.
According to Jackson, who has been instrumental in helping fire survivor families, “In view of the results of the survey, we conclude that the major thrust for the future to help VC fire survivors should be: 1) Continue with the current work activities of the many charitable organizations who are currently assisting with the rebuilding of homes and 2) Revitalize our efforts to bring in more funds from friends, neighbors and corporate entities.”
The survey tends to dilute some of the optimistic assessments of the status of fire survivors that have appeared in area press reports as the first anniversary of the fire came and went.
The survey was born from a collaboration between The Roadrunner and John Jackson, who was director of Disasters for the Western Region of the United States for the St. Vincent de Paul Society for the past eight years.
On March 24 Jackson sent out a proposal to leaders of recovery efforts in San Diego County on the importance of such a survey to alert the public as to the true status of the fire survivors. He received no support.
In September Jackson told The Roadrunner about his idea and the paper decided to join forces to conduct the survey.
Jackson noted that most news reports in the County focused primarily on significant accomplishments of specific families while not dwelling as much on setbacks that many families are experiencing.
The Valley Roadrunner
P.O.B. 1529, Valley Center, CA 92082
Tel. 760.749.1112 Fax 760.749.1688
Website: www.valleycenter.com
Email: editor@valleycenter.com
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