A 52-year-old man was arrested after two armed robberies in two hours Wednesday morning in Riverside.
Fernando Herrera was arrested on suspicion of armed robbery after employees and witnesses at a Big Lots store and Payless shoe store provided detailed descriptions of the suspect, wearing a toothy grin in a photo posted to the Riverside Police Department Facebook page.
The first robbery was reported at about 9 a.m. at a Big Lots store in the 4000 block of Madison Street. The suspect, armed with a handgun, stole cash before holding up the Payless store about a mile away two hours later, police said.
A detailed description of the suspect and his vehicle -- an older 80s model white pickup truck with camper shell and push bars on the bumper -- led officers to Herrera, police said. Herrera was found driving south on Washington Street near Van Buren Boulevard, where he was taken into custody, police said.
Herrera also was linked to two June 16 robberies at a Goodwill center and Michael's store, according to a statement from the Riverside Police Department.
Jail records show Herrera was booked on suspicion of second-degree robbery and scheduled to appear in court Friday. It was not immediately clear whether he obtained an attorney.
Bail was set at $150,000, according to Riverside County Jail records.
