Alleged Lafayette Bank Robber Suspected in Walnut Creek Robbery

An Antioch man arrested last Thursday after allegedly robbing a Lafayette bank has been connected to a robbery the same day at a Verizon store in Pleasant Hill, police said.

• Also See: Lafayette Police Arrest Alleged Armed Bank Robber
• Also See: Update: BART Resumes Stops at Lafayette Station

Pleasant Hill police initially received a call about an armed robbery at 11:51 a.m. Thursday at the Verizon store at 622 Contra Costa Blvd.

The suspect evaded officers after taking money and merchandise, police said.

Pleasant Hill police said the man, identified as Joseph Velasco, 34, is suspected of committing another robbery around 45 minutes later at Mechanics Bank at 3640 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette.

Lafayette police reportedly found Velasco 10 minutes after the Mechanics Bank robbery and arrested him following a brief struggle. Merchandise from the Verizon store was found in his possession, as was a BB gun, police said.

BART trains temporarily skipped the Lafayette station after the second robbery as part of a perimeter the police established.

Velasco was arrested on suspicion of Thursday’s robberies, police said. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.

--Bay City News