OXNARD : Suspect in Bank Heists Strikes Again

A robber suspected in several Ventura County bank heists in the last two months held up another bank shortly before noon Thursday, authorities said.

“We know this guy has robbed before because of his style,” said Gary Auer, head of the FBI in Ventura County. “We recognized the way that it was done. He has a certain little style that we associate with him.”

Auer declined to divulge the robber’s method of operation.

“We’re getting real close to getting him and we don’t want him to change,” he said.

The man entered the Bank of America at 2475 Saviers Road about 11:35 a.m. and handed a bank teller a note stating he had a gun, Auer said. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of money, the robber fled on foot into a nearby neighborhood, he said.

Oxnard Police officers searched the area unsuccessfully for about 45 minutes, Auer said.

Branch Manager Fred Knapp said the robbery happened very quickly and quietly.

“Nobody knew what was happening until it was over,” Knapp said. “Nobody was hurt and no shots were fired.”

About 15 customers and 12 employees were inside the bank at the time of the robbery, he said.