2 Bank Robberies May Have Been Committed By Same Woman: Santa Rosa PD

SANTA ROSA, CA — The Santa Rosa Police Department is investigating two bank robberies this week and believes the same suspect may be responsible for both.

A reward of up to $2,500 is offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect or suspects responsible for bank robberies at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Wells Fargo, 2759 Fourth Street, and at 4:02 p.m. Wednesday at Chase Bank, 1301 Guerneville Road in Santa Rosa, according to a news release from the Santa Rosa Police Department.

In the first robbery Tuesday afternoon at Wells Fargo, the suspect produced a note demanding money from a bank teller, Santa Rosa police Sgt. Brandon Matthies said.

"After obtaining an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect fled on foot westbound across Rogers Way to La Paloma Avenue," Matthies said.

The robber was described as an Asian or light-skinned Black woman in her late 20s to 30s, who was approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall with a heavyset build and possible dreadlock-style hair. She was wearing blue Jordan brand sweatpants, a blue Old Navy sweatshirt and a gray baseball cap, and was carrying a blue Adidas backpack.

Santa Rosa Violent Crime detectives determined the suspect fled into the residential area west of Rogers Way and north of Fourth Street. Police searched the area with assistance from a Sonoma County sheriff's helicopter crew but could not locate the suspect.

Police are asking residents of that neighborhood to review their residential video cameras for any footage of the suspect's movements around the time of the robbery which took place at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

In the second bank robbery Wednesday afternoon at the Chase Bank on Guerneville Road, the suspect produced a note demanding money from a bank teller. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect fled on a bicycle northbound on Range Avenue to westbound West Steele Lane, police said.

The suspect was described as a light-skinned Black woman who was 30-40 years old, around 5 feet 7 inches tall with a heavyset build. She was wearing a red U.S. Marine Corps sweatshirt, black pants, and a black ball cap and was carrying a dark-colored backpack.

"The suspect in both robberies appears to be a similar-looking female," Matthies said. "SRPD Violent Crime detectives are actively investigating the cases to determine if the robberies are related and committed by the same suspect."

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that would assist with the investigation is encouraged to contact SRPD through its online Tip Line or by calling SRPD's Violent Crimes Team at 707-543-3590.

The $2,500 reward is being offered through the Sonoma County Alliance Community Engagement and Safety Rewards Fund.