Alleged Cerritos Bank Robber Arrested Trying to Blend into Crowd

A man who allegedly robbed a bank in Cerritos today, leaving behind what he claimed was a bomb, was arrested by deputies about two hours after the crime was reported, authorities said.

Patrol units were notified about 9:25 a.m. of the robbery in the 11300 block of South Street, Lt. Martin Rodriguez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau said.

Upon arrival, deputies learned the suspect, described as a man in his 40s, entered the bank and demanded money. The bank robber also claimed to have an explosive device in a plastic bag, Rodriguez said.

He was handed “a moderate amount of cash” and left the purported bomb inside the bank along a row of teller windows, the lieutenant said.

Deputies evacuated the bank and called in the Arson/Explosives Detail, which determined the item was “merely fashioned to resemble an explosive device,” Rodriguez said.

“Deputies discovered a man matching the description of the suspect was seen acting suspiciously and attempting to conceal himself on the premises of a nearby automotive repair business in Cerritos,” Rodriguez said.

The suspect was arrested, about two hours after the robbery was reported, in the area of 195th Street and Pioneer Boulevard, according to Rodriguez, who said the man was identified by witnesses and was also found to have currency that numerically matched cash taken from the bank.

The man, whose name was not released, was arrested and booked on suspicion of armed bank robbery, making criminal threats and a bomb threat, Rodriguez said.

Bail has been set at $100,000.

The suspect’s name was not released because investigators are looking into other additional robberies that he may have committed, Rodriguez said.

City News Service