South County's 'Apologetic Bandit' Convenience Store Robber Pleads Guilty

Sentencing is scheduled for April 13 for the South County robber dubbed the “Apologetic Bandit.”

Farhad Sharifi, 20, pleaded guilty Wednesday to eight felony counts of second-degree robbery.

The stickups were on Sept. 27, 2013, Oct. 4, 2013, Nov. 12, 2013, Dec. 27, 2013, Dec. 28, 2013, Jan. 23, 2014, and Jan. 31, 2014, according to court records. There were two robberies on Dec. 28, 2013.

Sharifi, of Aliso Viejo, robbed multiple convenience stores and gas stations in Orange County, Lt. Jeff Hallock said when Sharifi was arrested and charged in February 2014.

Sharifi got the moniker because of his penchant for saying he was sorry during stickups, Hallock said.

His year-long robbery spree, included one at an Arco station in Mission Viejo, according to a sheriff’s press release.

In that incident, the suspect left, saying: “”Have a good night, man. Sorry.”

Sharifi was arrested after a 3 a.m. holdup at a 7-Eleven store at 24386 Muirlands Blvd. in Lake Forest. Deputies followed a suspect vehicle to Rockfield Boulevard and El Toro Road, where Sharifi was arrested in a foot chase, sheriff’s officials said.

Deputies recovered a replica handgun and a mask used during the robberies, officials said.

• City News Service

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