'Subway Bandit' caught 'Subway Bandit' caught (March 04, 2005)

Man allegedly robbed restaurants throughout the county

A San Jose man dubbed the "Subway Bandit'' for his alleged involvement in as many as 15 armed robberies at sandwich shops in Mountain View and other cities was arrested Sunday, San Jose police Sgt. Steve Dixon said Monday.

A police officer spotted Zachariah Ciprian, 27, last Saturday shortly after he allegedly robbed a Subway sandwich shop located at 2090 N. Capitol Ave. in San Jose around 8:05 p.m.

Ciprian was filling up his car at a gas station and fled on foot when the officer approached, leaving behind his vehicle and a 16-year-old female passenger, Dixon said.

The girl was booked into juvenile hall on four counts of robbery after police determined she was an accomplice in some of the crimes, according to Dixon.

Ciprian was arrested the following night while walking toward a light rail station in the area of Lick Avenue and Floyd Street in San Jose.

Investigators were able to identify him through vehicle records and statements from the girl.

He was arrested without incident and has been booked on six alleged counts of armed robbery, although Dixon said Ciprian is suspected of being involved in more than twice as many robberies since Jan. 17.

In each incident, the suspect would enter a store between the hours of 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and brandish a handgun.

Dixon said the handgun was typically displayed in the suspect's waistband, but during a few robberies he actually pointed it at store employees.

The robberies occurred in west and south San Jose, Mountain View, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale.

The same suspect also allegedly robbed a Quizno's restaurant and a Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop.

Ciprian is also suspected in an armed carjacking that occurred last Saturday in the area of Morrill and Cropley Avenues in San Jose, shortly after the robbery.

He was scheduled for arraignment last Wednesday.
-- Bay City News

E-mail a friend a link to this story.