Bank Robber Strikes Again, FBI Says

Authorities are searching for a man believed to have committed two robberies of Bank of America branches in Oxnard, the most recent occurring Tuesday afternoon.

FBI Special Agent Gary Auer said a Latino man about 30-35 years old walked into the Bank of America at 455 S. A St. at 1:14 p.m. Tuesday, handed a teller a note and told her he had a weapon, though he did not show it.

The teller handed him an undisclosed amount of cash and the man fled on foot to a parking lot of a nearby market, where witnesses said he left the area in a vehicle with two other men, Auer said.

Authorities believe they are looking for the same man who robbed a Bank of America at 1855 N. Oxnard Blvd. on June 13.

Witnesses on Tuesday described the robber as having black hair, brown eyes, about 5 feet 7, of medium build, with a mustache. He wore blue jeans, a dark brown Windbreaker and a black shirt underneath, according to Auer.

In the June 13 robbery, the bandit threatened to kill the teller if she did not give him money but he made no mention of having a weapon, according to Auer.

Authorities originally believed the June 13 robbery might have been committed by the same person who robbed a Bank of America branch at 2475 Saviers Road in Oxnard on June 11. But Auer said his bureau now believes those robberies were committed by different people.

Bank robberies in Ventura County in 1997 have declined considerably since this time last year, Auer said.

He said this is the 17th robbery this year, compared to 27 by this time a year ago.