Alabama man robs four Subways because 'Jared Diet' failed

HUEYTOWN, Ala. (KABC) -- Police are calling it a case of revenge. A man's failed journey to weight loss could be to blame for a string of Subway restaurant robberies in Alabama. Police say the suspect apparently got his hopes up after seeing commercials of other success stories.

Zachary Torrance, 18, was arrested Friday after he allegedly robbed four Subway restaurants over four days.

"He stated to the detective that he had attempted the 'Jared Diet' and it didn't work for him," Police Chief Chuck Hagler said. "He felt like he should get his money back."

Subway spokesman Jared Fogle lost 245 pounds in one year after eating a steady diet of Subway sandwiches. Police say when the focus on footlongs didn't pay off for Torrance, he targeted sandwich artists across the Birmingham area.

"My first reaction to that is that is a crazy thing to say but there has to be something because all he did was rob Subways," Hagler said.

Torrance, who weighs over 200 pounds, is now behind bars on $250,000 bond at Jefferson County Jail.

The alleged jilted dieter may have missed the part of the Subway commercial that states, "Jared believes in an active lifestyle including lots of walking," or something about results may vary.

Torrance was nabbed after surveillance video was posted on the Hueytown Police Department's Facebook page.

In the video, Torrance can be seen walking into a Subway restaurant, pulling out a gun and demanding that employees open the cash register. The footage was viewed by 150,000 people in 24 hours.

Lee Martin spotted Torrance shopping for a gun holster at Walmart and alerted police.

"All of a sudden, he turned the curb and was looking for a gun holster," Martin said.

He recognized Torrance because of his orange shoes, which he also wore while robbing a Subway restaurant.

Torrance could be facing additional charges in the three other suspected robberies.