Watsonville Bank Robbers On Santana Row Shopping Spree Before Bust: Police

PHOTOS: From left: Daniel Delgadillo; Michael Manning

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Two men were arrested in Santa Clara County on Thursday in connection with a robbery earlier in the day at a Watsonville bank, a police spokesman said today.

Michael Manning, 20, and Daniel Delgadillo, 20, both of Watsonville, were arrested for allegedly robbing a Chase Bank at 630 Main St. reported shortly before 11 a.m. Thursday, police Lt. Saul Gonzalez said.

Manning is on parole for burglary, Gonzalez said.

One of the men, who wore a bandana over his face, entered through bank’s front doors and allegedly demanded a teller to put money in a bag he brought with him, Gonzalez said. The teller complied with the demand and the suspect fled through the back of the bank with an undisclosed amount of money, the spokesman said.

• Previous: Chase Bank In Watsonville Robbed

The suspect did not appear to be armed, according to Gonzalez.

Police have not identified which of the two men committed the robbery.

Officers responded to the bank and secured the area, but were unable to find the suspect, Gonzalez said. Before the robbery occurred, a detective saw in the area a vehicle that was associated with another unrelated case police have been investigating for weeks, he said.

Detectives developed information and attained surveillance footage from neighboring businesses of the vehicle circling the bank before and after the theft, according to Gonzalez.

With the assistance of the FBI, the vehicle was found in the Santana Row outdoor shopping mall in San Jose off of Stevens Creek and Winchester boulevards, and then across the street at Westfield Valley Fair mall in Santa Clara, Gonzalez said. Around 7:30 p.m., police detectives and FBI agents conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and detained the men, the lieutenant said.

High-end merchandise, including a Gucci belt, purchased in cash from the two malls was found on the men and inside the car, Gonzalez said. The value of the items they bought was in the thousands, Gonzalez said. Both men were also found with a substantial amount of cash, he said.

Detectives and the Santa Cruz Anti-Crime Team served a search warrant at a Watsonville home, where they found more money and evidence that linked the men to the robbery, according to Gonzalez. Both men were booked into county jail, the spokesman said.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Watsonville police dispatch at (831) 471-1151, an anonymous tip line at (831) 768-3544 or the department’s investigations bureau at (831) 768-3352.

--Bay City News