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'Hot Spot Bandit' Arrested In Pleasant Hill For Lotto Ticket Thefts

PLEASANT HILL (CBS SF) -- A man police dubbed the "Hot Spot Bandit" was arrested Friday morning in Pleasant Hill for allegedly stealing hundreds of dollars worth of lottery tickets, California Lottery spokesman Alex Traverso said.

Robert Wayne Ladd, a 39-year-old Pleasant Hill resident, was arrested on suspicion of nine counts of burglary.

Each count carries a possible sentence of two to six years in prison. If he is convicted, however, this would be Ladd's third strike, which means he could potentially be sentenced to life in prison, Traverso said.

The alleged thefts began in April and were mainly committed at Bay Area supermarkets.

In most cases, Ladd allegedly waited until a counter where Hot Spot tickets were being sold was left unattended, walked over and reached behind the counter, where he helped himself to hundreds of dollars worth of tickets, Traverso said.

Lottery police, working with Pleasant Hill police, obtained surveillance photos of Ladd and issued a warrant for his arrest earlier this week.

Investigators have also been working with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office, which will be prosecuting the case, Traverso said.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services may have contributed to this report.)

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