‘Pajama Pants Bandit’ suspect captured in central Fresno

A man suspected of being the “Pajama Pants Bandit” who wore loose-fitting pajama bottoms as he robbed two Fresno businesses this month and tried to break into a third was apprehended Friday in central Fresno, Lt. Joe Gomez said.

Gabriel Gutierrez, 39, was found by a police dog hiding under the couch of his home at 1724 E. Yale Ave., Gomez said.

The Police Department received more than 40 tips through Facebook and CrimeStoppers that led officers to Gutierrez’s home on Thursday. His common-law wife, Yolanda Yepez, 30, allowed officers to search the house while she and other family members sat on a couch in the living room. Gutierrez was not found.

Investigators later received a tip that Gutierrez was hiding under the couch during the search, Gomez said. Officers returned Friday with a K-9 unit. Yepez claimed that Gutierrez was not at the home.

The K-9 officer announced his presence, asked people inside to show their hands and leave the house. The officer’s K-9 partner then entered and immediately found someone hiding under the couch.

Officers lifted the couch and found Gutierrez, who resisted arrest, Gomez said. He was taken to Community Regional Medical Center to be treated for dog bite wounds.

Gutierrez is suspected of two break-ins and an attempted break-in this month in which he used a long crowbar. His image was captured on security video. Police say he used the crowbar to break into Surf Thru Express Car Wash on the 4100 block of North First Street and stole the cash drawer. He is suspected of stealing checks from an office at Maple Grove apartments in southeast Fresno and attempting to break into a Century 21 real estate office in northwest Fresno. Both incidents happened Dec. 7.

In addition to the pajama pants, he wore blue latex gloves, gray tennis shoes and a black Raiders jacket.

Gutierrez will be booked into the Fresno County Jail on suspicion of burglary, of committing felonies while out on bail and of possession of a stolen vehicle. The investigation revealed that Gutierrez was in a stolen Kia while committing the burglaries. His son was later arrested in the stolen vehicle.

Yepez also was arrested for being an accessory to felony crimes.

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 3:26 PM with the headline "‘Pajama Pants Bandit’ suspect captured in central Fresno."