Press Release

Anchorage Man Sent to Prison for Eight Years for 2015 Robbery and Thefts

September 16, 2016

(Anchorage, AK) – Anchorage resident Robert Rivera Jr., 36 years old, was sentenced to eight years in prison for one count of robbery and 12 counts of theft involving multiple local businesses.

In 2015, Rivera targeted multiple Anchorage businesses and shoplifted expensive merchandise including power tools, generators, televisions and security camera systems. The string of thefts culminated on the busiest shopping day of the year—“Black Friday”—when Rivera entered a home improvement store armed with a concealed BB gun that looked identical to a real handgun. A store employee observed Rivera shoplifting a DeWalt drill and asked Rivera for his receipt. Rivera then brandished the BB gun and threatened the employee allowing him to escape with the stolen merchandise.

Thanks to the investigation of the Anchorage Police Department and the cooperation of local businesses that provided invaluable surveillance footage, Rivera was identified as the suspect and arrested the next day.

Superior Court Judge Michael Corey sentenced Rivera to six years in prison for the robbery and 60 days for each theft conviction. Rivera was also ordered to pay over $9000 in restitution.

CONTACT: Assistant District Attorney Patrick Sherry at (907) 269-6300 or patrick.sherry@alaska.gov at the Anchorage District Attorney’s Office.

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Department Media Contacts: Communications Director Patty Sullivan at patty.sullivan@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6368. Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.