Exclusive: Unusual Disguise Worn By Accused Armed Robber Leads To His Arrest In Delaware County

By Walt Hunter

RADNOR, Pa. (CBS) -- Radnor Police say the unusual headgear worn by an accused armed robber helped lead to his arrest for the May 22, 2014 armed robbery of an A Plus Mini Mart in Wayne.

Detective James Santoliquito says the early morning gunpoint robbery was frightening for the store clerk who had a gun pointed at him.

But, he says, the suspect's unusual wool hat proved to be his undoing.

As the suspect raced away down Lancaster Avenue toward the Blue Route, the detective explained, he began throwing items of clothing including the hat, his jacket and sneakers out the window.

But, investigators say, those items were soon recovered by 33-year-veteran Officer Charles Yespelkis and his squad.

Now, police say, DNA tests on the hat reveal a match to the suspect,identified by detectives as Christopher C. Mease of Aston Township, Delaware County.

Detective Santoloquito explained saliva on the hat, which covered the suspect's face, provided the DNA sample for the match.

The suspect, police say, was informed he was charged with the crime as his sat in his prison cell, only a few days away from being released after serving time for other unrelated crimes.