Search Continues for Alleged Bank Robber

Customers and employees at California Bank & Trust experienced some tense moments last Friday.

The Mountain View Police Department confirms that a black male adult, about six feet tall and described as wearing a long-haired wig and dark clothing remained at large after he allegedly robbed the bank at 700 E. El Camino Real on Oct. 5.

According to MVPD spokesman Sgt. Sean Thompson, the suspect entered the bank, waited in line, then allegedly vaulted the counter and took money from a money drawer. A witness saw the suspect exit the bank through doors that face the northside of the building.

The suspect didn't have a weapon and no one was injured.

Thompson couldn't yet confirm details about the amount of money taken nor the number of people at the bank.

The incident was reported at 2:19 p.m. Minutes later, a vehicle fire in the parking lot of 555 Castro St. appeared to initially raise suspicions, as MVPD officers and detectives swarmed the scene. [Patch will follow-up on the cause of that fire.]

This has been the second robbery report in a week in Mountain View and the second report of robbery at that same location in the last 18 months.

At that time, the suspect Lawrence Petitta, 53, was nabbed by the MVPD within 25 minutes of the alleged robbery.

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