Surprise police arrest “Croc Bandit”

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Citizens of Surprise can rest easy, the Croc Bandit has been caught.

Surprise police announced Monday that they had arrested Richard Elizondo in connection with damage to nine businesses near the intersection of Bell and Litchfield streets.

Police called him the “Crocodile Bandit” because security camera footage showed Elizondo breaking store windows with a shovel while wearing black crocs around 1:30 a.m. on April 29. Wearing shoes in “sport mode”.

The companies Elizondo is accused of harming are:

• Molly & Friends Dog Grooming
• Sunridge Apartments
• Lou Tivoli Gardens
• 99¢ store
• State brewery 48
• Verizon Wireless
• Metro from T-Mobile
• My father’s bakery
• Sun City Elk’s Lodge

Elizondo was charged with multiple counts of felonious assault.

Surprise police said they were able to identify Elizondo and the vehicle he was driving thanks to a post from members of the community on social media.

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