Police are looking for an androgynous suspect, who has been caught on camera in nearly half a dozen South Bay bank robberies in the last two months, with a $10,000 reward being offered for information in the case. Kimberly Tere reports.
Police are looking for an androgynous suspect who has been caught on camera in nearly half a dozen South Bay bank robberies in the last two months.
A $10,000 reward is being offered for information in the case.
The most recent robbery was Monday at a Comerica Bank in Milpitas.
The unidentified suspect, who San Jose Police Officer Albert Morales said is likely a woman but could be a man, has entered five banks since November, presented a demand note, made threats and sometimes pulled out a handgun.
The robber is becoming "progressively more brazen," Morales said, and should be considered armed and dangerous.
The suspect wore a long, black wig and sunglasses in each of the video surveillance pictures and has been seen taking the money and fleeing the scene before police can get there.
Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Comerica provided photos of the person inside the banks to police, who released the images on Tuesday.
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Witness descriptions, along with video images, show the suspect to be an African American man or woman, about 20 to 30 years old, standing about 5'4" to 5'7" tall, and weighing about 110 pounds.
A reward of up to $10,000 -- up to $5,000 from Wells Fargo and up to $5,000 from Bank of America -- is being offered for the "identification and conviction of the suspect associated with these robberies."
The banks hit include:
- Nov. 9, 1:54 p.m.: Wells Fargo Bank, 139 Ranch Dr. in Milpitas
- Nov. 23, 11:28 a.m.: Wells Fargo Bank, 1705 N. 1st St. in San Jose
- Dec. 11, 2:25 p.m.: Bank of America, 1245 Lincoln Ave. in San Jose
- Dec. 30, 1:10 p.m.: Wells Fargo Bank, 1715 Landess Ave. in Milpitas
- Jan. 6, 2:22 p.m.: Comerica Bank, 1289 S. Park Victoria Dr. in Milpitas
Anyone with information should call Detective Enrique Garcia of the San Jose Police Department's Robbery Unit at (408)277-4166. Persons wishing to provide information anonymously may call Silicon Valley Crimestoppers at (408)947-STOP (7867) or may visit www.tipsubmit.org.
