KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
A Santa Clarita bank robber who has robbed five local banks struck again, the most recent being a Santa Maria credit union Wednesday night around closing time.
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Santa Maria Police, as well as Sheriff’s Department officials, are releasing new photos in hopes of generating an identification from someone who knows the suspect. He has now robbed nine banks in total, including the four locations northwest of the Santa Clarita Valley.
A photo from the security camera at Coast Hills Credit Union, released by the Santa Maria Police Department
The man whom detectives are trying to identify is believed to be about 6 feet tall, his late 50-60s, heavy set (about 230 pounds), and always uses a note. The suspect walks into a bank around closing time, acts as a customer and, when it’s his turn, he hands the teller a note indicating he has a weapon and demanding money.
Once he receives the money, he then takes the note back, apologizes, and leaves with his haul.
Detectives now believe he’s using his original means of escape from the scene, a champagne-colored, hard-top PT Cruiser.
He struck again around 5 p.m., which has been his usual M.O., according to officials.
The Coast Hills Credit Union at 2264 S. Bradley in Santa Maria was robbed around closing time, and the suspect was able to flee the location in a champagne-colored hard-top PT Cruiser, with aftermarket wheels with “spokes.” (Detectives reported that he recently changed the wheels, after a recent report that he might be using a different vehicle.)
He was wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses at the Santa Maria robbery, as he has in all the others.
Detectives believe the suspect is once again using the PT Cruiser, but now one with “spoke” wheels
In Santa Clarita, he’s consistently stolen from a “U-shaped” corridor around The Old Road, between Lyons Avenue and Magic Mountain Parkway, said detectives with the Major Crimes Unit.
Also troubling investigators, there’s about 20 banks and credit unions along this Santa Clarita route alone, in addition to the stretch of road between Santa Clarita and Santa Barbara. Detectives suspect the man lives somewhere in between — he’s also robbed banks in Carpinteria, Goleta and Montecito — and are hoping someone who knows the man or recognizes his car will phone in a tip.
As in several of the other recent bank robberies, no one was hurt in the incident, and based on preliminary information, it appears the customers likely were again unaware of the incident until it was over.
“The notes are all the same,” said Detective Berry, describing the M.O. in both Newhall robberies, in a previous interview. “He demands the money, says he has a gun and, generally, apologizes after he leaves.”
Sheriff’s Department officials, who are investigating the case along with FBI and local jurisdictions, are planning to get the message out to as wide an audience as possible.
“I think he’s familiar with the area,” Berry said, hoping to encourage a neighbor who might be able to identify him.
He’s about 6 feet tall, about 230 pounds or more based on photos and descriptions and always wears sunglasses and a ball cap.
Anyone able to identify the detective or might have information about the suspects whereabouts is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department’s Major Crimes Bureau at 562-946-7893. FBI officials can also be reached at 310-477-6565.
Santa Maria Police officers released several photos from Wednesday’s robbery.
https://twitter.com/SMPDHQ/status/905637181317722113
And here are the other released photos from previous bank robberies:
Bank robbery detectives have a serial bank robber who’s now stolen from five Santa Clarita banks, and at least nine in total, officials said Thursday.
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So he got a little too well known here in SCV and he’s moved north. With all due respect, I can NOT believe this guy has not been caught yet!! Uh, hello banks, MAKE IT A REQUIREMENT THAT ALL BANK PATRONS REMOVE THEIR SUNGLASSES AND HATS BEFORE ENTERING THE BANK. If they refuse to, then no service. There are many cities have this requirement in place…its not a NEW concept folks.
There is no way a bank can legally dictate what a US citizen wears.
Yes they can. In New Mexico security will not let you in the bank until you take off your hat and sunglasses.
Exactly! And any man driving up in a PT cruiser regardless the color wearing a baseball hat and glasses should he checked out and have the sheriff’s come check them out or sit some undercover police at the locations in the cities come on now, figure it out guys
And I found it rather humorous, that the title of this article included in caps (NEW SUSPECT PHOTOS). Uh, he looks the same in every bank photo!
Clues: When he wears a collared shirt he likes 2 pockets. I don’t think the car is his, he might be test driving a car for sale…and always choosing PT Cruisers is a game for him…How many cruisers with spoke wheels and a custom spoiler are out there? 2006-07 PT Cruiser Flush Mount Rear Hatchback Spoiler (can replace factory
hatch spoiler The spoiler in the photo is black. He would be too easy to catch if that was his car. He might live in Fillmore, Santa Paula…out of the way kind of places between Santa Clarita and Santa Barbara.