211: May 2008 Archives

This from reporter Ruby Gonzales in Whittier:

Two men suspected of robbing a Hacienda Heights bank were arrested Thursday after a sheriff's helicopter pilot spotted the getaway car and followed them, according to officials.
The robbery occurred at 12:56 p.m.

A man entered the US Bank at 2040 Hacienda Blvd. and handed a teller a note demanding money, said sheriff's Lt. John McBride.
The robber left with the loot and was seen getting into a green Honda Accord.

Witnesses gave a description of the robber, the car used and a partial license plate. A sheriff's helicopter pilot nearby heard the police broadcast and saw the car.

Richard Cho, 53, of Hacienda Heights has been booked on one count of robbery. Jose Rivera, 35, of Los Angeles was also booked on one count of robbery. Both suspects are being held at the sheriff's Industry Station jail. Bail for Cho has been set at $100,000.

 

A man believed to be the Late Bloomer bandit has been apparently captured by the Whittier Police Department, although there is no information on their site.

FBI shows Late Bloomer captured on their LA Bank Robbers site.

Thanks to the Bank Terrorism blog for this tip.

Here's an excerpt from a Brian Day story about the Late Bloomer published on April 21, 2008:

The Late Bloomer Bandit earned his name because of his age, estimated between 55 and 60, said FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller.

He is believed to have struck the Whittier Union Bank branch at 8510 Painter Ave. on March 28, a Pico Rivera Banco Popular at 8500 Washington Blvd. on March 29, and a Santa Fe Springs Banco Popular at 13310 Telegraph Road on April 16, Eimiller said.

The bandit tells his victims he has a gun and isn't afraid to use it, however no weapon has been seen, Eimiller said.

He also uses profanity and appears to be growing bolder with each robbery, she said.

The Late Bloomer Bandit is described as a white or Latino man, standing about 5 feet 7 inches tall, and weighing 180 to 190 pounds, with gray hair and a mustache, Eimiller said. He wears prescription glasses with black frames and carries a newspaper or magazine where he stows the stolen cash, she said.

This is an excerpt of a Brian Day story running in tomorrow's newspaper. I think it enhances my theory that the world has turned into a giant game of Grand Theft Auto IV:

Three recent video game store robberies in which thieves seemed more interested in games, not cash, might be connected, authorities said Tuesday.

Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Major Crime Bureau are investigating a possible link between robberies at GameStop locations in Rosemead, Pico Rivera, and Bellflower that occurred between April 22 and Sunday, officials said.

The most recent incident was at a Rosemead GameStop store, located at 3000 San Gabriel Blvd., said sheriff's Sgt. Tri Hong.

Four robbers stole six PlayStation 3 video game systems and fled, said store manager Jovan Sanchez.

At least one handgun was used in the crime, Hong said.

Sanchez described the robbers as well-mannered and who said "please" as they demanded the video game systems.