Getaway teen gets caught

A 14-year-old Sacramento boy was the getaway driver in the latest robbery of a frequently targeted Olivehurst convenience store, Yuba County Sheriff Steve Durfor said Tuesday.

Three young men, one of whom had a rifle or shotgun, entered the Sierra Super Stop on Olivehurst Avenue about 3 a.m. Sunday and took cigarettes, lighters and an undisclosed amount of cash from a register, Durfor said.

One of the robbers punched a customer, causing minor injuries. The customer refused medical treatment, Durfor said.

No shots were fired. The clerk was not injured.

It was the store's second robbery in 24 hours. About 3 a.m. Saturday, an unarmed thief grabbed two lottery ticket "towers" and ran out the door.

Sierra Super Stop's owner did not immediately return a phone call.

Department spokeswoman Melanie Oakes attributed the frequent robberies to the store's environs and its proximity to Highway 70.

The 14-year-old was arrested Monday morning when deputies stopped a stolen van "full of juveniles" in Olivehurst. He admitted stealing the van Saturday from his foster home in Sacramento and said he'd been paid to be the getaway driver in the robbery, dropping off the other suspects and picking them up, said Durfor.

Surveillance cameras recorded the robbery but the other suspects, who were still being sought Tuesday, had their faces covered, said Oakes.

Deputies have been keeping the store under surveillance in response to frequent robberies and "beer runs" in which a thief grabs merchandise and runs out. A deputy was stationed about three blocks away when the latest robbery happened, said Oakes.

An employee quickly called the Sheriff's Department after the robbery, she said.

Short of watching the store 24 hours a day, "there's no way" the Sheriff's Department can prevent robberies, said Oakes.

The 14-year-old was arrested on suspicion of robbery and vehicle theft and booked into Bi-County Juvenile Hall in Marysville. He was also wanted for violating probation in San Diego County.

In September, Jesse Jaramillo, 18, allegedly took $1,400 at gunpoint from the same store. It was the third robbery since June 2007.

In November 2007, a man bought a lottery ticket, then sprayed a chemical into the face of clerk Tarjinder Singh and grabbed cash.

Vera Correa, co-chair of the Olivehurst Economic Improvement Committee, said Tuesday that crime makes some people hesitant to shop on Olivehurst Avenue.

"Naturally, people get scared, but we're not exclusive to that," Correa said.

Olivehurst has always had the reputation of being crime-ridden. But these days, when it comes to gangs and drive-by shootings, Olivehurst seems no worse than in Marysville or Yuba City, she said.

Robbers tend to pick on particular businesses like the Sierra Super Stop, she said.

"Like any business, they need to assess why they're an easy target," Correa said.

Correa gave the Sheriff's Department high marks for its anti-crime efforts.

Correa said businesses are fighting crime by installing more cameras and better lighting in their parking lots.

Contact Appeal-Democrat re-porter Rob Young at 749-4710 or at ryoung@appealdemocrat.com