Fresno robbery suspect unsuccessfully hides in stranger’s bathroom

A woman’s bizarre robbery and escape attempt in central Fresno was foiled Monday after officers found her hiding in the bathroom of a nearby home, police said.

Fresno police Lt. Joe Gomez said that Lorena Gonzalez, 43, approached a young woman and her friend while they were getting gas at the 76 Gas Station at the southeast corner of Shaw Avenue and First Street. Gonzalez asked the two for a ride, and they refused. She then asked if they needed help airing up their van’s tires, and they refused again. Gonzalez then climbed into the driver’s seat.

One of the women told Gonzalez to get out of her van, but Gonzalez told her to back off because she had a gun, Gomez said. Gonzalez then stole the victim’s wallet, which was sitting on the van’s dash, and ran away.

Gomez said a clerk at the 76 station ran after Gonzalez and told 911 operators that she was somewhere near Fairmont Avenue and Fourth Street. A K-9 unit tracked her to a home in the 3400 block of East Fairmont Avenue. The home’s residents were standing in their front yard and told police that a woman they did not know ran into their home and was hiding in their bathroom.

Gonzalez was booked into Fresno County Jail on robbery charges.

This story was originally published May 2, 2016 at 4:48 PM with the headline "Fresno robbery suspect unsuccessfully hides in stranger’s bathroom."