When the Lathrop Police responded to the La Reina Supermarket on Louise Ave. earlier this week after reports of a robbery, they began scouring the neighborhood looking for a suspect armed with a knife.

And thanks to the keen eye of a Lathrop Manteca Fire District employee who happened to be in the area, officers didn’t have to look very far.

According to the Lathrop Police, the tip that came in from the Lathrop Manteca employee about a suspicious person led officers to the person that they believe is responsible for the crime – a 26-year-old Lathrop resident that was taken into custody without incident.

Upon further investigation officers discovered items that were taken during the robbery as well as a knife believed to have been used in the commission of the crime.

“Great dispatching, swift responses by our officers, and teamwork with our partner agencies is what keeps our community safe,” the Lathrop Police Department said in a release announcing the arrest.

To contact Bulletin reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.