Police Seek Man Who Robbed Credit Union on El Camino Real

Palo Alto Police seek a man who entered the Provident Credit Union on Saturday morning and allegedly robbed the business of an undisclosed amount of cash, a police spokesman announced Sunday morning.

The man entered the establishment at 2390 El Camino Real right before 9:05 a.m. on April 13 and handed the teller a note that claimed he had a firearm, though one was never seen, according to Detective Sergeant Brian Philip.

The tellers complied with his demand. No one was injured during the robbery.

Immediately police arrived on scene, but couldn't locate the suspect who, according to witnesses, had fled on foot southbound through the parking lot just west of the credit union. A witness said they saw the suspect drive away in a silver or gray 2-door sedan, possibly a Ford Thunderbird, and head southbound on El Camino Real.

Witnesses described the suspect as a black male in his forties or fifties, between 5 feet 9 inches and 6 feet 1 inch tall, with a thin build. He wore a black nylon jacket with a white and gray horizontal stripe across the chest, black nylon pants with a white stripe down the legs, a white wristwatch, and white shoes. He wore eyeglasses and a black baseball hat. He carried a black backpack.

This is the second time the Provident Credit Union has been robbed this year, the first time occurring on Jan. 9, 2013. That case has been solved, with charges currently pending against 32-year-old Hunter D. Thompson, a San Jose resident, according Detective Sergaent Phillips.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect or who may have information about this incident is asked to call our 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984.