Police arrested a man late Wednesday night for allegedly raping and robbing a woman in an Escondido shopping center. Then he stole her SUV.
The incident was reported shortly after 5 p.m. at the Valley Plaza Shopping Center on 1690 East Valley Parkway.
Police said an armed man robbed and possibly raped a young woman who was working alone in a store.
He took her SUV which was white or in color, with a license plate number 4JKK683, police said.
The man suspected in the incident was described as a Hispanic man about 5 feet 5 inches tall and in his 20s. He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt.
About 5 hours later, witnesses spotted the stolen vehicle less than a mile from the crime scene. They told police the man was acting strangely.
Police arrested the man in a parking lot. The victim was able to positively identify him. The man was booked into jail.
