Man sentenced to prison after violent armed robbery caught on camera in Glendale

A repeat criminal faces nearly two decades in prison for a brutal armed robbery at a Glendale store last year.

Gilbert Lara, 53, was sentenced to 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of felony kidnapping, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office stated on Monday.

Around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, prosecutors claimed Lara came into a Cricket Wireless store on 67th Avenue and Camelback Road, pulled out a knife, and demanded cash from the register. The employee, who was working alone at the time, gave the man money before he asked that she open the safe in the back of the store.

But when she couldn’t unlock the safe, Lara reportedly became irritated and punched her in the face before pushing her to the ground. He told her to remain in the office while he went.

According to court documents, the woman suffered a cut on her eyelid and feared that he might injure her.

“He instructed me not to move… I felt afraid… “He was going to stab me,” woman told Glendale police.

Investigators identified Lara as a suspect after reviewing video surveillance, license plate reader data, and phone records. Detectives discovered clothing he was wearing during the heist when conducting a search warrant after his detention.

Lara was first charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, and kidnapping. As part of a plea bargain with prosecutors, he pled guilty to kidnapping in April, and the other two accusations were withdrawn. He was condemned to prison last week.

“Crimes like this extend far beyond theft. They include aggression, terror, and domination. “The defendant’s violent actions and threats created unimaginable fear and trauma,” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell stated. “The 19-year prison sentence holds him responsible for the devastation he inflicted. We also admire the victim’s bravery and resilience throughout this lawsuit.

According to records, Lara had already been convicted of offenses such as theft, armed robbery, and abuse. He was under community supervision at the time of the robbery in Glendale.