Crime & Safety

Bank Robbery Rocks Watsonville for Third Time this Fall

Comerica Bank was robbed on Monday afternoon.

Contributed by Watsonville Police Department:

On Dec. 17 at approximately 12:48 p.m., officers from the Watsonville Police Department were dispatched to Comerica Bank at 1998 Main St. for an armed robbery that had just occurred. Officers arrived in the area quickly and secured the bank. Inside the bank, employees and customers were visibly shaken from the robbery. 

The investigation revealed that two masked men entered the bank and immediately ordered all the occupants to get on the floor. One of the men was armed with a silver revolver. Threats of harming the employees were made if orders were not followed. The unarmed suspect jumped over the counter and began approaching each teller position having the teller hand over the money for the drawer.

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The second suspect remained near the door with his gun drawn. The first suspect made his way behind the counter collecting money. That suspect jumped back over the counter and both suspects exited the bank.

They possibly entered a compact silver four-door vehicle and were last seen driving toward South Green Valley Road.

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The suspect with the gun was described as an adult male of an unknown race. He was five-feet-eight-inches tall and had a medium build. He was wearing a light gray hooded sweat shirt, tan pants, dark gloves and had a dark mask over his face. The suspect that jumped over the counter was also an adult male, unknown race. He was five-feet-ten-inches and medium build. He was wearing a dark gray hooded sweatshirt, dark pants, black gloves and a dark mask on his face. 

Watsonville Police investigations along with the FBI are actively investigating this armed robbery. Anyone with information regarding this case is strongly encouraged to call the Watsonville Police Department Crime Tip line at 831-728-3544 or the Watsonville Police Department Investigation Bureau at 768-3352. 

This marks the third bank robbery this fall. Earlier this month, Citibank was robbed, and Rabobank on Main Street was held up in September. Citibank was also robbed twice earlier in the year prior to the December incident. 


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