Man Suspected In Pair Of Palm Desert Bank Heists Arrested

PALM DESERT, CA — A man was arrested in connection with two Palm Desert bank robberies that occurred in the past week, sheriff's officials said Thursday.

Christopher Franco, 43, of Indio was arrested Wednesday night in the 83500 block of Indio Boulevard, according to Riverside County sheriff's Deputy Mike Vasquez.

He was booked into the Indio Jail on suspicion of two counts of second degree robbery and a parole violation.

He was being held without bail.

Franco is accused of pulling off heists at Pacific Premier Bank at Fred Waring Drive on Monday after robbing a Rabobank in the 41000 block of Cook Street on Friday, Vasquez said.

Authorities did not disclose how much money was stolen from those two locations.

Investigators do not believe any other suspects related to the pair of robberies were at large, Vasquez said.

Sheriff's officials did identify Franco as a suspect in a third holdup on June 10 when a man brandishing a gun robbed a Wells Fargo bank branch in the 42000 block of Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage.

The suspect in that case was described as wearing dark clothing and a dark covering over his face.

Franco was due to make his first court appearance for arraignment at 1 p.m. Friday.

— By City News Service