Alabama man allegedly robs 4 Subway stores, blames 'Jared Diet'

Zachary Rapheal Torrance, 18, of Fairfield, was apprehended in a Walmart store last Thursday night after a customer recognized him from photos on the police department's Facebook page, authorities said, reports The New York Daily News. Torrance is charged with first-degree robbery, and his bond has been set at $250,000, AL.com reports. Police chief Chuck Hagler said that Torrance admitted to the Hueytown robbery, and authorities asked him why he did it. "I don't know if he was kidding or not, but he said he had tried the Jared diet and it hadn't worked for him so he wanted his money back," Hagler said, per AL.com. Torrance was apparently emulating Jared Fogle, who famously lost 245 pounds by reportedly eating nothing but sandwiches from Subway. Torrance said he had been eating either the foot-long veggie sub or the six-inch turkey sub, but he didn't lose weight. Torrance is also suspected of robbing Subway stores in Hueytown, Midfield, and Birmingham, Fox 6 reports. When arrested, Torrance was purchasing a holster for the gun that he reportedly used in the robberies. He was also wearing the same clothes — a black jacket and orange shoes — that he'd worn while allegedly robbing a Subway in the Birmingham area. It's those orange shoes that tipped off the customer who recognized him, per Fox 6.