Alleged Robber Who Targeted Women In Lake Elsinore Arrested

A man is in custody for allegedly robbing women in Lake Elsinore.

Adrian Gamas, 27, of Lake Elsinore was arrested Wednesday after a detective pieced together evidence from two separate robberies in the city.

In the middle of the day on Jan. 31, Gamas allegedly approached a woman and her 9-year-old daughter who were using an ATM at the Lakeshore Drive Bank of America.

“The suspect brandished a knife at the female victim and daughter and ordered her to withdraw $200,” according to a news release from the Lake Elsinore Police Department.

The woman let the suspect withdraw the money from her account; after he got the cash, he fled in a white Toyota Tundra, the release stated.

Then in the middle of the day on Feb. 1, an elderly woman was robbed as she exited the Target store on Collier Avenue. According to the news release, the victim was getting into her vehicle and placed her purse on the passenger seat; the robber allegedly opened the passenger door and grabbed the handbag.

“The suspect was chased by the victim around several cars in an attempt to retrieve her purse. The suspect eventually dropped the purse and fled the area in a green Honda Accord,” the news release stated.

A witness got the license plate number.

Then on Wednesday, police received video from Bank of America that depicted the alleged Jan. 31 armed robbery. A detective who viewed video from both the Target purse theft and the armed robbery determined it was the same suspect.

Further investigation by detectives on Wednesday led them to the 200 block of Peck Street in Lake Elsinore, where the white Toyota truck had been seen earlier.

When detectives arrived the truck was not at the location, but a detective spotted the vehicle in the area of Lakeshore Drive and Riverside Drive. A felony traffic stop was made and the suspect was taken into custody, according to the news release.

At 6:50 p.m. Wednesday, a search warrant was served in the 29000 block of Jernigan where the suspect allegedly resides. The green Honda Accord that police say was used in the purse theft was located at the residence.