Wildomar Yogurt Shop Thief Busted, In Jail: Police

WILDOMAR, CA — Nearly two weeks after a man robbed a yogurt shop in Wildomar, sheriff's officials say they tracked him down — and he was already behind bars. Authorities say the man responsible for the crime was picked up in connection to another alleged crime in San Diego.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Brett Seckinger, the Golden Spoon store was robbed on Feb. 15. At around 4 p.m. that day, a man ordered a dessert and acted like he was about to pay for the item when he instead pulled out a weapon.

"When the clerk opened the cash register, the suspect brandished a knife and demanded the money," Seckinger said in a news release. "The clerk fearing for their safety, surrendered an undisclosed amount of money and the suspect fled the business."

The man was not located that day, but detectives conducted a follow-up investigation with evidence at the scene, along with assistance from other businesses and the public's help on social media, and were able to develop some leads.

Tuesday, detectives interviewed 21-year-old Patrick Eduardo Kitts of San Diego. Kitts, who is in custody for an unrelated charge, was arrested in the robbery, Seckinger said.

Kitts remained in custody in San Diego County. Robbery charges will be filed in Riverside County, according to Seckinger.

— City News Service contributed to this report / Image via Inked Pixels, Shutterstock.com