OXNARD : 3rd Bank Robbed in 2 Days; No Link Seen

In the third Ventura County bank heist in two days, a Bank of America branch in Oxnard was robbed Wednesday by a man who authorities said was not connected to the two prior robberies.

But for tellers at the branch, at 1855 N. Oxnard Blvd., it was the third holdup this year.

No one was hurt in Wednesday’s robbery or during the Aug. 8 and July 13 heists at the branch, said FBI Special Agent Gary Auer.

The 10:30 a.m. robbery Wednesday was committed by a man in his 20s who slipped a note demanding money to a teller. He did not display a weapon and left on foot after receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, Auer said.

The unshaven African American man--described as having markedly high cheekbones, between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9 and weighing 150 to 165 pounds--is not thought to be linked to past bank robberies, authorities said.

A robbery Tuesday morning at a Bank of America branch at 455 S. A St. in Oxnard was committed by a Latino man in his 30s, about 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighing about 170 pounds.

On Tuesday afternoon, a white man in his mid-20s, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds held up a Home Savings branch at 3310 Telegraph Road in Ventura.

Bank robberies in Ventura County--28 so far this year--are up compared to the number committed in four of the past five years.

As of Sept. 20 last year, there were 17 bank robberies in Ventura County, and in 1993, there were 40, Auer said.