Serial Robber Arrested, Told Police She Needed Money For Dog Food & Kitty Litter
PITTSBURGH (KDKA)- Pittsburgh Police say a woman has been arrested for the robberies of several local businesses.
Melissa Santoro, 28, of Banksville, has been arrested in connection with at least three recent robberies along Banksville Road.
Pittsburgh Police say Melissa Santoro went into the Sunoco on Cochran Road Wednesday night to buy a pack of cigarettes. The clerk, who also works at the Sunoco gas station that she allegedly robbed the night prior, recognized her, got her license plate and then called police.
Police said the first two robberies were in mid-January. First, she allegedly robbed the Ride Aid and then the Sunoco gas station.
On Tuesday night, Santoro reportedly struck again. This time, she went to the Jet's Pizza in Dormont.
"The clerk asked her if she would like to place an order," said Dormont Police Sergeant James Burke. "She said, 'No, I'm here for the money.' And at that time she brandished a black semi-automatic handgun."
Alarmed, the employee ran into the back where two other employees were and called police.
Santoro walked away empty-handed and decided to go back to the same Sunoco she'd robbed before and try again.
She was successful this time. However, it was the combination of surveillance video taken at both stores along with the clerk's quick-thinking that police were able to track her down.
"I was hopeful that it would be quick and with the clarity on the video that we were able to provide as well as the Sunoco," Jet's Pizza owner Doug Zalla said.
Initially, Santoro denied being part of the robberies. After she failed a lie detector test, police said she came clean.
She told police she needed money for dog food and kitty litter. She also said she needed the money to help her mother.
Santoro said the gun she used was plastic, but it all felt very real to those involved.
"I was relieved from our employee standpoint that I know over the last couple days that things have been a little tenser than normal as you might expect," Zalla said.
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