Man Sought Who Allegedly Cashed Stolen Lottery Tickets in Spring Valley

Authorities Friday asked for the public's help in identifying a young man who allegedly stole lottery ticket dispensers from a San Diego gas station on at least two separate occasions, then cashed in the winning tickets in Spring Valley.

The first incident at the Arco station at 4333 Home Ave. was about 4:30 a.m. on April 5. The second was reported just  before 5 a.m. on April 18, according to San Diego police and San Diego County Crime Stoppers.

In each of the cases, the suspect allegedly ripped the lottery ticket dispensers from the counter while the clerk was in a back room and ran from the store. He was last seen getting into the passenger side of a dark-colored sedan, possibly a late model Honda Civic, detectives said.

Within hours of each incident, the winning tickets were cashed in at convenience stores and liquor stores on Grand Avenue and Bancroft Drive in Spring Valley, according to police and Crime Stoppers.

The suspect was described as white or Hispanic, 18 to 20 years old, 5 feet 7 to 5 feet 9 and thin. He was wearing a hunting cap.

Anyone with information on the suspect or his whereabouts was asked to call the San Diego Police Department's Southeastern Division at (619) 527-3500, or call Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477, or contact them via email or text message at sdcrimestoppers.com.

–City News Service