Campbell Police Nab Suspected Serial Bank Robber

CAMPBELL, CA -- A local man who was already on parole for bank robbery has been arrested on suspicion of robbing the same bank again. Twice.

The Campbell Police Department says that on Jan. 10, it arrested the individual who's suspected of committing October and December 2016 bank robberies, and that the suspect was living just a block away from the scene of his alleged crimes.

The latest case began around 11:30 am on Oct. 28, when a bank robbery occurred at the Chase Bank located at 1605 S. Winchester Blvd in Campbell. Surveillance video is below.

In the video, the suspect walked into the bank and approached a teller, then made threats that he had a gun; however, no weapon was seen. After the teller handed over money, the suspect exited through the east doors of the bank and was last seen walking southbound on Winchester Blvd.

Then, at about 10 am on Dec. 20, 2016, another bank robbery occurred at the same Chase Bank on S. Winchester Blvd. What appeared to be the same suspect as the October robbery approached a teller and demanded money. After receiving the cash, the suspect exited through the east doors of the bank toward Winchester Blvd.

During the investigation, a Campbell Police Sergeant recalled a similar robbery that occurred in 2006 at the Bank of the West on S. Winchester Blvd. In that case, a suspect who lived a short distance from the bank was identified and arrested for the robbery. That suspect, identified as 32-year-old Campbell resident Ermec Antonio Avalos, matched the description of the recent Chase Bank robberies.

Campbell Detectives determined that Avalos was on active parole for robbery and only lived a block away from the Chase Bank. On Jan. 10, Campbell Detectives conducted a parole search at Mr. Avalos’ residence and located evidence related to the two robberies.

Avalos was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on two counts of robbery and is currently in custody with bail listed at $250,000.

Anyone has any information about the bank robberies or Avalos is asked to call the CPD's Investigations Unit at (408) 871-5190. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through our free mobile application (Campbell Police Department), downloadable from the App Store or Google Play.

Images via Campbell Police