Phoenix police: Armed robber targets day laborers with promise of work - azcentral.com
He’s swapped a gray Ford F-150 for a black Dodge truck, or a pearl Lincoln Navigator, using each to haul cash away from those who likely don’t have bank accounts to store it. But a distinctive accent, pot belly and particularly shameless M. O.... He’s known as El Gordo in the parking lots of Home Depots across the Valley, and the “Lobo Bandit” by Phoenix police. Since April 2013, an overweight Hispanic man, perhaps emigrated from Sinaloa, Mexico, has been luring day laborers into his vehicle with the promise of work. None of the detectives or community activists interviewed for this story believe the victim count stops at 16. The man, they say, likely targets the day laborers not only for the near guaranteed cash on hand but also for the victims’ notorious... Most of the victims, they say, are undocumented, speak little to no English and see police as a gateway to deportation proceedings. “He knows that this is the perfect victim, the perfect crime. Both police and advocates say they have heard rumors of other victims who have not come forward. Richard said he’s working to assure victims that his only concern is the crime at hand. Source: www.azcentral.com
