A wig-wearing woman who police said robbed a Wells Fargo bank on California Avenue on Wednesday afternoon before discarding her clothing in a nearby parking lot was arrested minutes later after officers found her walking around College Terrace wearing a bra and jeans.
Police said Joyce Rodriguez, 20, of San Francisco, walked into the bank at 505 California Ave. at around 2:30 p.m. and handed a note to the teller, demanding money. After the teller handed over an undisclosed amount of cash, Rodriguez allegedly left, walked north through a parking lot and entered a nearby carport, where she hid her wig and much of her clothing in what police assume was "an apparent effort to thwart detection by officers."
The attempt didn't work as officers spotted her on the 2300 block of Yale Street minutes after the robbery. Police said she was walking north, clad in a bra and jeans. Detectives located the discarded and hidden clothing and wig nearby.
Rodriguez was arrested and charged with felony robbery, felony burglary, destruction of evidence and an outstanding warrant for prostitution out of Santa Clara County. She was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail. Palo Alto police are working with detectives from other law enforcement agencies to see if she was responsible for any other recent bank robberies.
Comments
College Terrace
on Sep 4, 2014 at 12:49 pm
on Sep 4, 2014 at 12:49 pm
Did she think she wouldn't attract attention when strolling topless in College Terrace?
Palo Verde
on Sep 4, 2014 at 3:00 pm
on Sep 4, 2014 at 3:00 pm
Did you read it? It said she was wearing a bra, not "topless" as you state. Although that, of course, would also draw attention
Mountain View
on Sep 4, 2014 at 3:04 pm
on Sep 4, 2014 at 3:04 pm
I guess she figured that no one would be looking at her face. Guess that proves her wrong...
Green Acres
on Sep 4, 2014 at 4:53 pm
on Sep 4, 2014 at 4:53 pm
As reported, it looks like this crime involves drug involvement, not rational behavior. Assuming the allegations are correct, we have to wonder what will be served by sending this 20-year-old off to prison for many years. Obviously, no weapons were involved or we would have heard about that.
The felony burglary charge seems like over-charging to me. I wonder whether this was for entering the carport to doff her clothes or the entry into the bank itself.
Monroe Park
on Sep 4, 2014 at 6:42 pm
on Sep 4, 2014 at 6:42 pm
More proof that crooks are stupid.
Midtown
on Sep 4, 2014 at 6:56 pm
on Sep 4, 2014 at 6:56 pm
"an outstanding warrant for prostitution out of Santa Clara County"
Pretty young hooker. Gotta pay for her drugs, one way or the other.
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Sep 4, 2014 at 7:19 pm
on Sep 4, 2014 at 7:19 pm
She gets a Darwin Award, unlike the Spandex-wearing bicylist who robbed a bank in Portola Valley or Woodside a few years back. He just put on his helmet and merged into the hordes of other Spandex-wearing bicyclists and was indistinguishable from the others.
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Sep 4, 2014 at 8:09 pm
on Sep 4, 2014 at 8:09 pm
"we have to wonder what will be served by sending this 20-year-old off to prison for many years"
Well, she won't rob banks from jail, and when she gets out, she'll be too old to be a prostitute. Seems like a win-win.
Barron Park
on Sep 4, 2014 at 10:04 pm
on Sep 4, 2014 at 10:04 pm
[Post removed.]
Palo Verde
on Sep 5, 2014 at 12:22 pm
on Sep 5, 2014 at 12:22 pm
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South of Midtown
on Sep 5, 2014 at 12:23 pm
on Sep 5, 2014 at 12:23 pm
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