WABASSO, Fla. -- The Indian River County Sheriff's Office says the Citgo gas station at 8530 US Highway 1 in Wabasso was robbed on June 14 at approximately 10:22 p.m. by a man wearing a bandana over his face.
IRCSO says the man brandished a knife and demanded money.
The Sheriff's Office says the Shell gas station at 5325 US Highway 1 was robbed the next night at approximately the same time, by a man also with his face concealed, who presented a gun.
Detectives with IRCSO reviewed surveillance footage from both robberies and followed up on several leads and were able to identify a suspect, 29-year-old Alan Lopez of Vero Beach.
Lopez was taken into custody on unrelated charges of organized scheme to defraud and uttering a forged or counterfeit check.
Lopez was interviewed and subsequently admitted to both robberies.
Lopez was arrested on Friday, June 17 on warrants for robbery while wearing a mask, robbery with a deadly weapon, and aggravated battery.
He is being held at the Indian River County Jail without bond pending his first appearance hearing.
Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar said, "I commend the work of our detective bureau to identify, locate, and apprehend Lopez before someone was hurt. We know that so many of these cases revolve around drug addiction. It is a safer day in Indian River County with Lopez off the streets and behind bars where he belongs."