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Zorro Bandit Suspect Arrested In Tampa

Tribune photo by JULIE BUSCH

An anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers helped St. Petersburg police identify George N. Shaw.

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TBO.com

Published: February 11, 2009

Updated: 02/11/2009 05:39 pm

TAMPA - Zorro the Bandit's crime spree is over.

Fingerprints from a bag of candy he left behind during a robbery were the keys to catching him, St. Petersburg police say.

His real name is George N. Shaw, 50, of 11321 N. 50th St., Tampa, but he had a penchant for wearing clothing reminiscent of the famed Spanish swordsman during eight heists, police say.

Shaw was arrested near his home this afternoon by Tampa police officers. He is being questioned by detectives from St. Petersburg, Tampa and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Shaw is expected to be taken back to Pinellas County tonight.

An anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers helped St. Petersburg police identify Shaw, spokesman Bill Proffitt said in a written statement. Shaw's fingerprints were on a bag of M&M's he left on the counter during a Jan. 29 robbery of a CVS store at 3426 Central Ave., Proffitt said.

The bandit was given the "Zorro" nickname by investigators because he wore a black bandana around his head and a black fedora in eight armed robberies between Jan. 26 and Feb. 7.

"Zorro" robbed a Family Dollar store, at 3201 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg on Saturday evening, St. Petersburg police spokesman Bill Proffitt said Monday.

On Feb. 4, he robbed a different Family Dollar store, at 1041 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. S., in St. Petersburg, Proffitt said. On Jan. 29, he robbed a CVS pharmacy at 3426 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg, the spokesman said.

That same day, he also robbed a Walgreen's pharmacy at 92202 N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace; and on Jan. 26, he robbed a Family Dollar store at 6006 N. Nebraska Ave. in Tampa, Proffitt said.

In each case, the robber made a small purchase and then demanded money from a clerk, Proffitt said.

He has been armed with a small silver handgun in each of the robberies. No one has been injured.

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