A Las Vegas man accused of robbing nine businesses across the valley was only caught after DNA evidence was collected from the scene of one of the robberies, according to a Metro Police arrest report.
Jeremy Francom, 40, was arrested Nov. 4 on 10 counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, one count of attempted robbery with a deadly weapon and nine counts of burglary with an explosive device, according to the report.
The robberies spanned from Sept. 24 to Nov. 3 and investigators determined in each case, Francom would enter a business with a bag and state he had a weapon or a bomb and threaten violence to secure money, police said. Francom later admitted to police that he chose robbery locations that wouldn't show a geographic pattern, according to the arrest report.
Police were able to collect DNA from the scene of a robbery committed on Oct. 23, when a suspect walked into the Walgreens at 6401 W. Charleston Blvd. at 11:13 a.m. Francom walked into the store and was seen on surveillance footage waiting about 40 minutes before approaching employees in the pharmacy section.
The DNA was collected from a chair near the pharmacy Francom was sitting in while waiting, police said. Then, investigators were able to run a public records check and find Francom’s Las Vegas address. A check with the Nevada DMV showed that a white Hyundai Sonata, which was seen at one of the robberies on security footage, belonged to Francom.
Detectives followed Francom and his Hyundai to a Las Vegas resort and arrested him as he was walking from the hotel to his vehicle, police said. In an interview with police, he admitted to the robberies and the bombs he used were fake and that he needed the money to pay back a drug dealer.
Francom was released on bail with electronic monitoring, and he must stay away from the businesses where the robberies occurred, according to court records. Jack Buchanan is listed as the attorney representing Francom.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 23.