Update: Police have captured a suspect in the case on Tuesday, May 23. Read about the arrest here.
A downtown Palo Alto bank was robbed Monday afternoon by a man who police said passed a note to the teller and then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Police said the department received a call at about 1:20 p.m. about the robbery that had just occurred at Bank of America at 530 Lytton Ave., near Cowper Street. The robber reportedly presented a note to the teller demanding money. No weapon was seen or mentioned, police said.
After the teller handed over the cash, the man fled on foot and was last seen walking east on Lytton, police said.
Police said officers responded immediately but could not located the suspect, who was described as a black man, about 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds. A still image from the bank's surveillance system showed the man wearing a multicolored jacked over a green shirt and blue jeans. The man also wore black wraparound glasses and a black beanie.
The Monday incident was the first bank robbery this year in Palo Alto.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the department's 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be emailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the department's free mobile app, downloadable at bit.ly/PAPD-AppStore or bit.ly/PAPD-GooglePlay.
Comments
Old Palo Alto
on May 22, 2017 at 5:34 pm
on May 22, 2017 at 5:34 pm
I was just doing business at a bank in Southern California and notice a sign on the front door that stated "please remove any type of hat and sunglasses before entering this bank. I'm surprised that all banks don't require this.
another community
on May 22, 2017 at 6:26 pm
on May 22, 2017 at 6:26 pm
@Stan Because a man with the intention of robbing the joint is going to adhere to such a sign am I right Stan?
Old Palo Alto
on May 22, 2017 at 6:38 pm
on May 22, 2017 at 6:38 pm
Most banks around Palo Alto have security guards posted outside the front door that are supposed to profile the suspected robbers and at least ask him to remove his sunglasses. In theory, that works better than easily ignored signs. How did this guy get past the guard?
another community
on May 23, 2017 at 12:20 pm
on May 23, 2017 at 12:20 pm
@resident As a frequent customer of this branch I rarely see the theoretical guard at this branch
another community
on May 24, 2017 at 7:06 am
on May 24, 2017 at 7:06 am
oops this is BofA...too much over head to hire a decent/alert guard....they would probably get the cheapest contract guard just as a physical presense
Barron Park
on May 24, 2017 at 11:17 am
on May 24, 2017 at 11:17 am
Police said officers responded immediately but could not *locate the suspect.
FTFY.
Downtown North
on May 24, 2017 at 3:50 pm
on May 24, 2017 at 3:50 pm
Our EPA bro is working hard bank after bank.