Phoebe Judge

Robbery started popping up all over the West Coast.

Robbery started popping up all over the West Coast.

By August of that year, there had been 27 similar robberies across California, Nevada, and Oregon. And the way the suspect got in each time, through the roof, wasn't the only thing connecting them. According to detectives, one reporter wrote, the robber's cordial demeanor is as distinct as his rooftop entry.

By August of that year, there had been 27 similar robberies across California, Nevada, and Oregon. And the way the suspect got in each time, through the roof, wasn't the only thing connecting them. According to detectives, one reporter wrote, the robber's cordial demeanor is as distinct as his rooftop entry.

He was also known to call police from borrowed employee cell phones, or pay phones, to tell them that there were employees locked in the cooler. But police couldn't catch him.

He was also known to call police from borrowed employee cell phones, or pay phones, to tell them that there were employees locked in the cooler. But police couldn't catch him.

So he was proving hard to catch.

So he was proving hard to catch.

In October of 1999, the Sacramento Bee reported that the so-called rooftop robber had taken his, quote, fast food fetish to the East Coast. McDonald's up and down I-95 between Virginia and South Carolina were being robbed. McDonald's corporate offered a $5,000 reward. Some people speculated that the suspect was a former McDonald's employee.

In October of 1999, the Sacramento Bee reported that the so-called rooftop robber had taken his, quote, fast food fetish to the East Coast. McDonald's up and down I-95 between Virginia and South Carolina were being robbed. McDonald's corporate offered a $5,000 reward. Some people speculated that the suspect was a former McDonald's employee.

Was it clear that you were dealing with someone who was not only athletic, but also pretty smart?

Was it clear that you were dealing with someone who was not only athletic, but also pretty smart?

The robber had fired his gun to scare employees, once into the ceiling and once into a fax machine. But police said he hadn't fired at any employees during his robberies. During one robbery, he pistol-whipped and tied up an employee, after the employee came up behind him and hit him over the head with a bucket.

The robber had fired his gun to scare employees, once into the ceiling and once into a fax machine. But police said he hadn't fired at any employees during his robberies. During one robbery, he pistol-whipped and tied up an employee, after the employee came up behind him and hit him over the head with a bucket.

Police arrested a 19-year-old man named Jacob Ray Farrell on the roof of a McDonald's in California. He'd triggered an alarm at 2 in the morning. But he had no weapon or black mask with him. And when police searched the roof, there was no hole anywhere. He told police that he had climbed onto the roof to try to get some sleep, and he was later ruled out as a suspect.

Police arrested a 19-year-old man named Jacob Ray Farrell on the roof of a McDonald's in California. He'd triggered an alarm at 2 in the morning. But he had no weapon or black mask with him. And when police searched the roof, there was no hole anywhere. He told police that he had climbed onto the roof to try to get some sleep, and he was later ruled out as a suspect.

McDonald's corporate increased their reward to $10,000. It must have been incredibly frustrating that you couldn't catch him.

McDonald's corporate increased their reward to $10,000. It must have been incredibly frustrating that you couldn't catch him.

In early 2000, a robbery was reported at a Trader Joe's near Salem, Massachusetts. Police believed it was the rooftop robber. By then, he was linked to robberies at 35 other stores and restaurants across the country, mostly McDonald's, but he had also been connected to robberies at Burger King locations, as well as grocery, toy, and video stores. Police said he had stolen almost $100,000 in cash.

In early 2000, a robbery was reported at a Trader Joe's near Salem, Massachusetts. Police believed it was the rooftop robber. By then, he was linked to robberies at 35 other stores and restaurants across the country, mostly McDonald's, but he had also been connected to robberies at Burger King locations, as well as grocery, toy, and video stores. Police said he had stolen almost $100,000 in cash.