Updated: Sawed-off suspect robber in custody

The first that Henry Diaz, Jr., knew he was in trouble was when an undercover police officer appeared out of nowhere and took him into custody in the Bashas' parking lot at 48th Street and Warner Road just after 8 a.m. Thursday.

According to police, Diaz, 28, is the man behind nine robberies of businesses since Sept. 26 - six of which took place in Phoenix and the remaining three in Tempe. In each robbery, police said the suspect used a sawed-off shotgun.

The last heist took place in Ahwatukee Foothills on Oct. 27 when police said Diaz tried to rob Papa John's Pizzeria at 43rd Street and Ray Road.

Sgt. Phil Roberts credits the arrest to "good old-fashioned police work."

According to Roberts, Ahwatukee Foothills officers, led by Sgt. Chris Kieffer, hit the streets looking for clues soon after the robberies began. The hunt led them first to what they suspected was a getaway vehicle and that car then led them to Diaz.

Roberts said Kieffer and his squad of undercover officers, assisted by Tempe police officers, began surveillance on Diaz and his family around 1 p.m. Wednesday.

On Thursday morning the officers were following Diaz when he pulled into the Bashas' at 48th Street and Warner Road. Not sure if it was for a robbery or a cup of coffee, Kieffer decided that officers didn't want Diaz to become mobile again and quickly took him into custody. They said Diaz was apprehended without incident when leaving the grocery store.

Police had been searching for the robbery suspect for weeks, but were tight-lipped on details of the search so the suspect wouldn't get spooked.

"We didn't want him to change his (method of operation)," Roberts said.

According to police and witnesses, the robber, dressed in all black, would enter a business wearing a beanie and sunglasses. He would then pull the sawed-off shotgun out of his pants, take the cash and escape. In a few instances, startled clerks ran at the sight of the shotgun, leaving the would-be robber alone in a business but empty-handed.

Roberts wouldn't say if a weapon was or wasn't found on Diaz when he was arrested. He did say there was evidence on Diaz that allegedly tied him to the crimes.

Police said Diaz lived near Warner Road and 48th Street, and that he had a valid New Mexico driver's license.