Bank Robbed by Man in Halloween Mask

A Watsonville bank was robbed at gunpoint late Thursday afternoon, Watsonville police told local media.

The masked robber, armed with a small black handgun, struck the Citibank on East Lake Avenue about 4:30 p.m., the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported.

He walked into the front entrance of the bank wearing a Halloween mask, pointed the gun at several bank employees and told the not to move, according to police.

The robber demanded the cash from the teller drawers. He got away with an undisclosed amount of money. No one was hurt and no customers were inside at the time of the heist, police reported.

The robber walked out of the bank after the holdup ran onto Tuttle Avenue. A witness saw him get into a green Honda sedan driven by another man. No arrests had been made late Thursday, according to police.

The Register Pajaronian gave this description of the robber:

"...a Hispanic male in his 40s, heavyset, wearing a black beanie with a white stripe, and dark pants and dark shirt. He may have been driving a green Honda or Acura."

The same bank also was robbed in May.

Detectives ask that anyone with information about the latest heist call the Investigations Bureau at 768-3350 or the Crime Tip Line at 768-3544.