Police: Man Dressed in Drag Robs Belmont Bank, Carjacks Woman to Get Away

Belmont police are looking for a man who robbed a local bank— while dressed as a woman— on Friday, and have released surveillance images of him.

Belmont Police Capt. Patrick Halleran says the hold-up was reported at the Provident Credit Union in the 400 block of El Camino at 3:10 p.m.

“Officers arrived within minutes and were advised that the suspect, who was a male disguised as a woman, had fled on foot,” Halleran said in a statement.

As police were at the bank investigating, they got another call about a possibly related crime.

“While officers were on scene at the credit union, a call came in of a carjacking that had just occurred in the 1700 block of Norte Dame Avenue,” Halleran said. “Evidence and witness statements indicate that the suspect in the robbery and the carjacking are the same individual.”

And just about a block away from the scene of the carjacking, police found a pile of women’s clothing, including a sweater, scarf and wig worn during the robbery, according to Halleran. There was also a fake gun, described as a black air-soft replica handgun.

“The investigation is still on-going and more information will be released when it becomes available,” the captain said. “Photos from the credit union ATM and lobby accompany this release, however video is not available at this time.”

The man is described as black, between the ages of 17 and 20, stands about 6-feet-tall and is slender, with a tattoo on his left arm, according to police. He was wearing a yellow vest and black pants when he took the woman’s vehicle.

The vehicle he’s accused of taking is a light gray Honda Odyssey minivan with the license plate: 5SAH869.

Anyone with information on this case can call Belmont Police at 650-595-7400, the Belmont Police Crime Tip Line at 650-598-3000 or the San Francisco Office of the FBI at 415-553-7400.