
LOS BANOS, CA (JULY 25, 2025) — A Los Banos man has been arrested following an armed robbery at a convenience store on Mercy Springs Road earlier this week. According to police, the incident occurred around 3:11 a.m. on Monday, July 21, when a masked suspect entered the store with a leopard print bag, brandished a handgun, and demanded cash. Surveillance footage shows the suspect retrieving the firearm from a small cheetah-print backpack before fleeing the scene. The store clerk was unharmed.
Detectives identified the suspect as Steven Michael Gifford, 38, of Los Banos. On Wednesday afternoon, July 23, officers served a search warrant at a residence near Skylark and Clifford Avenues, where Gifford was taken into custody. Evidence connected to the robbery was recovered during the search. Gifford has been booked on armed robbery charges.
At this time, police have not reported the involvement of any additional suspects. Authorities are urging anyone with information about this case to contact Detective Aaron Goins with Los Banos Police Department at (209) 827-2534.