Three men participated in the robbery of the Whitmore Avenue branch of the Bank of the West Wednesday which got a little violent.
The men got away before police arrived in the area.
According to police, two or three suspects entered the bank at approximately 3:41 p.m. through a door on the north side of the building. One suspect, described as a black man, standing about 6-foot to 6-foot-2 and weighing 175 to 180 pounds, threw a female customer to the floor. A surveillance video shows the first suspect in a gray hooded sweatshirt, red polo type shirt, beige pants, and black and white shoes.
The second suspect moved to the teller windows, with the first suspect, yelling at the victims demanding cash from the drawers. He was described as a Hispanic male adult, approximately 5-foot-8, weighing 180 pounds, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, long white shirt, blue jeans, and black and white shoes.
As this took place, it appears a third suspect described as a Hispanic male adult wearing a black hooded sweat shirt, dark pants, and shoes stood by the north door.
While demanding money from bank personnel, one robber held his hand inside clothing as if to simulate a weapon, however no weapon was seen.
After obtaining an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspects ran out of the north door.
Police believe that two of the suspects climbed into a late 1990s to early 2000's sedan style vehicle, possibly a brown or tan Toyota, driven by a white female adult with brown hair. The vehicle fled north through the Richland Shopping Center. The third suspect was seen running on foot into a neighborhood north of the bank.
A search of the neighborhood was completed by officers on foot after a perimeter was set up by other units.
Detectives processed the crime scene at the bank for evidence. Photographs from the bank security cameras, as well as other evidence, were obtained. At approximately 5 p.m., the search of the area was completed and no suspects were located.
Any possible witnesses to the incident are requested to contact Detective Venn at 538-5616 or Ceres Police Dispatch at 538-5713.
The men got away before police arrived in the area.
According to police, two or three suspects entered the bank at approximately 3:41 p.m. through a door on the north side of the building. One suspect, described as a black man, standing about 6-foot to 6-foot-2 and weighing 175 to 180 pounds, threw a female customer to the floor. A surveillance video shows the first suspect in a gray hooded sweatshirt, red polo type shirt, beige pants, and black and white shoes.
The second suspect moved to the teller windows, with the first suspect, yelling at the victims demanding cash from the drawers. He was described as a Hispanic male adult, approximately 5-foot-8, weighing 180 pounds, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, long white shirt, blue jeans, and black and white shoes.
As this took place, it appears a third suspect described as a Hispanic male adult wearing a black hooded sweat shirt, dark pants, and shoes stood by the north door.
While demanding money from bank personnel, one robber held his hand inside clothing as if to simulate a weapon, however no weapon was seen.
After obtaining an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspects ran out of the north door.
Police believe that two of the suspects climbed into a late 1990s to early 2000's sedan style vehicle, possibly a brown or tan Toyota, driven by a white female adult with brown hair. The vehicle fled north through the Richland Shopping Center. The third suspect was seen running on foot into a neighborhood north of the bank.
A search of the neighborhood was completed by officers on foot after a perimeter was set up by other units.
Detectives processed the crime scene at the bank for evidence. Photographs from the bank security cameras, as well as other evidence, were obtained. At approximately 5 p.m., the search of the area was completed and no suspects were located.
Any possible witnesses to the incident are requested to contact Detective Venn at 538-5616 or Ceres Police Dispatch at 538-5713.
