Suspect in 30 Robberies Held After Store Heist
SEAL BEACH — A 42-year-old man, suspected of robbing at least 30 businesses in Orange County since April, was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly held up a liquor store clerk and demanded that money be put into an envelope, police said.
Neil Hubert Wright of Dallas was arrested by Huntington Beach officers as he was driving south on Pacific Coast Highway following a robbery in Seal Beach, Police Lt. Ed McErlain said.
Police said they believe that Wright had robbed at least 29 other businesses in the county and one in Lakewood before Wednesday’s holdup at West Beach Liquor, 462 Pacific Coast Highway, about 2:30 p.m.
Authorities dubbed the man in those robberies the “envelope bandit” because of his method of operation, police said.
“On most occasions, the suspect brings with him a manila envelope, which he gives to victim employees, and tells them to put money into the envelope,” McErlain said.
Most of the robberies were committed at dry-cleaning businesses.
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