Helmet-wearing robber hits Montecito bank
A motorcycle helmet-wearing bank robber entered a Santa Barbara Bank & Trust on East Valley Road in Montecito yesterday, and after holding up two tellers, fled on a bicycle with an unknown amount of cash.
The circumstances surrounding the robbery — in particular the use of a motorcycle helmet and choice of escape vehicle — left police wondering if the perpetrator was the same person who recently robbed a Rabobank in Vandenberg Village. The suspect in that robbery, which occurred on July 13, also wore a motorcycle helmet and escaped on a mountain bike.
“Just like the guy in Lompoc,” said Lt. Butch Arnoldi, a Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department spokesman, of the Montecito robbery.
When surveillance video of the robbery becomes available, Arnoldi said it might be easy to determine if the same man was behind both robberies, largely because the helmet wore in the first incident was so distinctive.
Arnoldi said the suspect entered the bank, at 1483 East Valley Road, around 4:30 p.m. and pointed a gun at two tellers before fleeing with cash.
The suspect was wearing black leather gloves, black boots and a gray sweatshirt.
Anyone with information should call the sheriff’s department at 681-4100.
Comment on this article
dumb : 7/28/2010
Any bank that doesn't sound an alarm when someone is standing in line with a helmet on, deserves to be robbed
sigh
Options : 7/28/2010
My bank even requires people to remove hats and sunglasses when entering. If they enforce that rule it would make video ID a lot easier.
Art
good idea : 7/28/2010
yea cause people with guns and intent to commit felonies will totally follow the instructions on the sign at the front of the bank that they rushed by while brandishing a firearm.
Lt. Logical
HAHA : 7/28/2010
I am with Lt Logical
Maybe they should have an old man standing in front of the door
: 7/28/2010
That has been my bank for the last many years. Until the last few months there was always a security guard at the door (outside). I have not seen him the last many times I've been there, including yesterday when I was there about 2 hours prior to the robbery. Did they decide they didn't need a security guard or were they unable to afford him? One wonders if he had been there if things would have turned out differently, and, if so, better or worse? Fortunately, no one was shot.
Regarding the concept of a bank "deserving to be robbed"... nonsense. I walked in in a baseball cap, should they have sounded an alarm?
Montecito Security Guy in Brown Uniform : 7/28/2010
What happened to the nice Hispanic fellow who used to sit in
the chair right in front of the bank doors outside?
Martin
security guard got fired .. : 7/28/2010
.. bought himself a helmet ...
: 7/28/2010
and a mountain bike...
: 7/28/2010
and a pistola...
double doors : 7/29/2010
It seems that most banks and fine jewelry stores in Europe have a set of double doors. You get buzzed in past the first one while you wait to get buzzed all of the way through....and vice versa on the way out...You can't leave without getting buzzed through, and some have armed guards posted nearby. I have used this bank for over 30 years and it has been robbed many times...you'd think they would figure it out someday...wait...was that my money????
go figure
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