Results tagged “211” from Crime Scene

Only in Detroit would a bank robber have the last name Fortune. This one's for the 211 Guy:

DETROIT -- A Detroit man who said he started robbing banks to pay for his mother's plumbing was sentenced Tuesday to two years in prison, a lenient term from a judge who said the defendant had been an "outstanding citizen" before his crime spree.

Prosecutors wanted U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman to stick with federal sentencing guidelines, which would have given Jimmie Lee Fortune five years to six years in prison for stealing nearly $14,000 from five Michigan banks. Fortune, 29, had pleaded guilty in March, with prosecutors agreeing not to charge him with three more robberies.

Fortune had told investigators that he robbed the first bank in April 2008 to fix his mother's plumbing and get his driver's license reinstated. After that, he just kept going.

"I was so stressed and depressed," he told U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman on Tuesday. "I found it difficult to separate life from fiction."

He entered banks demanding money and yelling threats such as, "Large bills or I'll start shooting," according to the FBI. Fortune was not armed during the robberies.

From the "Only in Pasadena" file:

PASADENA - Cornered atop a parking structure with no way out, a suspected bank robber made a desperate move Monday as officers closed in - he jumped from the roof of the five-story structure.

Seriously injured, the man was taken to a hospital, where he was in critical condition, authorities said.

Workers in the area said they heard a scream, then heard a loud thump; several said they then saw the man lying on the ground before paramedics arrived.

About an hour earlier, at about 9:16 a.m., the man held up the California National Bank, 101 N. Lake Ave., telling a clerk he had a gun, police said.

He ran out with an undisclosed amount of cash. But a person inside the bank, either an employee or a teller, ran after the man, calling 9-1-1 and providing police with a "good" description of the robber, Pasadena Police Department spokeswoman Janet Pope Givens said.

PASADENA -- A woman who thwarted a burglary at her home by using her vehicle to block the burglars' car was shot in the side by one of the men, police said.

One man, in his 20s, was arrested. Police are still looking for a second man. And the 49-year-old woman was taken to a hospital with a non-life-threathening bullet wound, police said. The incident unfolded at about 11:30 a.m., when the woman arrived home, pulled into the driveway of her residence in the 500 block of East Ladera Street, and found a car parked in the driveway.

She was sitting inside her vehicle when two men walked out of her home carrying items of her property. The two men got into their car, an older gray sedan, and tried to drive off, but the homeowner used her vehicle to ram the back of the burglars' car, police said.

At that point, one of the men got of their car, walked up to the passenger side of the woman's vehicle and opened fire. He missed. He then went around the driver's side and fired again, hitting the woman in the side, police said.

- Detectives are asking for the public's help in identifying the man who broke into a condo Friday then robbed and raped an 82-year-old woman who is legally blind.

A composite was also released of the suspect who got away with an undisclosed amount.

The home-invasion robbery and rape happened at 5:30 a.m. May 1 at a complex in the 13900 block of Bayside Drive.

The suspect broke a window of one condo and forced his way in. Deputies said he ransacked the place looking for money.

Lt. John Gannon said the resident heard a noise, went downstairs and was confronted by a man who demanded money.

The robber wanted cash and wasn't interested in credit cards, Gannon said.

This from our friend Mike Alerich at the bank 211 blog:

Due to the Swine Flu concern and the proliferation of citizens wearing face masks Banks, Businesses and everyday people should be extra cautious and aware of their surroundings; Who-What is behind that mask?. Not paranoid just use common sense and never "Assume" anything.
Common street thugs by nature are cowards and hide their face behind ski-masks and ladies pantyhose while preying on innocent victims, now during this crisis they can blend in with the crowds for a 20 cent throw-away mask.

For addition photos of 'Medical Mask' bank robbers go to   www.scorpio-security.com, Mike's other site.

A takeover specialist targeting banks in central California is being sought by the FBI. The Sleeves bandit has apparently worked as far south as La Crescenta and La Canada Flintridge, according to a press release issued Friday.

Here's a larger gallery of photos: Sleeves_Bandit_Photo_Album.pdf

Press release on the jump...

The Arcadia Police Department has set up a Web page  listing its most wanted criminals.

Not a top ten list, like the FBI's 10 Most Wanted, but certainly a valuable tool for Arcadia police.

Here's who they are looking for:

Two suspects in an armed robbery, described as male Hispanics in their 20s.

A man, possibly Hispanic, suspected of burglarizing a jewelry store on Las Tunas.

Check out the Web site for composite drawings and pictures. And call the cops at *626) 574-5151 if you know any of these characters.

I found this among today's comments. It's from Mike Alerich, our resident bank robbery expert:

Rumored that "S&P Bandit" has been seen casing several banks in the San Gabriel Valley, same appearance and same "lucky" jacket, sorta hard to miss.
AND a new bandito popped-up again;"Yosemite Sam", White male, 30s, huge full beard (fake?), hitting 1st Bank, again, on Valley Bl., Alhambra Mon. 1-26 at 1000hr.
AND possibly Another serial bandit hit Another Citibank in La Cresenta Mon..
AND,in Riverside County Calimesa, the same serial bandit did violent Take-Over at same WAMU, second time this month, same scary disguise & big gun, assaults and pepper sprays innocent customer & employees as they lay on the floor.
For longer list click 'Bank Terrorism Alerts" on sidebar>

This from Mike Alerich our 211 expert:

Looks like our infamous "S&P Bandit" went back to work Tues.1-20-09, this time 'Up-Town', 1st Federal Bank, Wilshire Bl., Beverly Hills at high noon, the exact time our new President was being sworn in office. This dude went from 'low-class' to 'No Class'.
Ironic while President Obama is trying to correct the Banking Cartel debacle this guy is robbing the 1st Federal Bank.
We'll see where he pops up next.....San Gabriel Valley ?

From City News Service. Photo courtesy Pasadena PD:

PASADENA -- Pasadena police released a photo today in hopes that someone will recognize a suspect who used a handgun to order a customer to withdraw money from an ATM two days after Thanksgiving, but left empty-handed.

The victim of the Nov. 29 daytime holdup was uninjured, said Pasadena police Lt. John Dewar.

The bandit was wearing a black and gray sweatshirt and black pants and may have been
driving a silver Nissan Xterra with paper plates that indicated the SUV had been bought
at a Universal City dealership, the detective said.

The suspect was described as a Latino in his early 20s, 5 feet 10 inches tall and 160 pounds, with short black hair, a medium complexion and a small amount of
acne on his cheeks.

EL MONTE -- As many as 125 elementary students remained locked down for hours in a elementary school cafeteria while police Friday attempted to coax a robbery suspect from a home in the 4100 block of Gibson Street, authorities said.

Modesto Alcala, 29, is suspected of participating in an armend robbery at a South El Monte motel in late December. Police said the standoff is tied to a similar incident in West covina last week that resulted in the arrest of another suspect in the case.

El Monte police officers, U.S. Marshals, hostage negotiators and a special weapons team have set up a command post at nearby Shirpser Elementary School. About 125 students there have been locked in a cafeteria since 2 p.m., officials said.

"The suspect, Modesto Alcala, we believe is inside the house and has refused to surrender," El Monte police Detective Ralph Batres said. "He is a parolee at large and is considered armed and dangerous."

Alcala had recently moved into the neighborhood and was seen earlier Friday with a handgun, Batres said.

"He's putting a lot of people here at risk," Batres said.

This from WTVQ 2 in Lexington, Ky:

A gunman walked into the South Elkhorn Water District Building this afternoon and tried to rob it, mistaking it for a bank. 

The man showed clerks his revolver handgun and demanded cash.  When the clerks said they didn't have any money, the man mentioned that the building was a bank.  The clerks then informed him that the building was no longer a bank.

The man looked around the building for a bit before running away.  No one was hurt in the attempted robbery.

The South Elkhorn Water District moved into the building that was formally occupied by Farmer's Bank on the corner of South Main Street and Edgewood Drive.  Police say the man mistakenly thought it was still Farmer's Bank.

This from the overnight roundup:

EL MONTE - Two local men were arrested Saturday on suspicion after allegedly slitting a female taxi driver's throat, robbing her and stealing her cab, authorities said.
David Herrera Siguenza, 19, and Carlos Carillo Ramirez, 25, both of El Monte, were booked on suspicion of attempted murder, carjacking and robbery, El Monte police Detective Ralph Batres said.
The incident occurred about 10:30 p.m. Friday when the woman, a 35-year-old El Monte resident, picked up the two men in the 11700 block of Emery Street in El Monte, Batres said.
After driving about a mile with Siguenza and Ramirez in the cab, Ramirez allegedly grabbed the woman by the neck from behind and slit her throat with a utility knife while Siguenza told him to stop, Batres said.
The wounded woman got out of the cab and the two men fled in it, the detective said. They also stole money from the woman.

Here's my notes from an interview with Baldwin Park police Chief Lili Hadsell regarding Wednesday's kidnapping at Union Station. What do you make of the story?

There were two vicims. The case was called in last night between 7:30 and 7:50

they had been at union station where they met.

The female victim was walking to the male victim's car in the US parking lot when she was bumped by a man who was wearing all black clothing --possibly resembling a federal agent.

He forced the couple to drive to the Big Dalton address where a safe with $20,000 and several documents was taken.

THe victims agreed to meet at Union Station. She meets him apparently at his car. SOmeone bumps into her and tells her to getinto the car. He gets inthe back seat and says drive me to your residence. When they arrive all three get out. He has them open the door and says, "close your eyes." He pushes them inside. THe suspect instructs the victims to tell him where the safe is or he will kill them. Apprently he goes into a room there the safe is.

THis is not a random situation. THere is a possibility that the victim knew the suspect.

AFter the suspect fled, the victims opened their eyes, They run to the car and drive to Glendale. The female decided to wait there until her husband got home.

WHen her husband got home he noticed the home had been burglarized and called the police department., We respond. SHe tells the husband what happened.

It is not clear if there is a video monitoring system at Union Station.

THe suspect was described as a male, of unknown race, approximately 55. He was 6'1" and weighed 190 pounds. He had a medium build. He was wearing dark clothing and was clean shaven. The victim has not been asked to put together an identi-kit.

Victim #2 is a resident of GLendale. He requested confidentiality.

"We want the residents fo Los Angeles and Baldwin Park to know that this is not a random kidnapping," hadsell said.

Two people were kidnapped at gunpoint from Union Station in Los Angeles and taken to Baldwin Park where they were robbed, officials said. *

Interestingly enough, even though we knew the kidnapping had taken place when we called Baldwin Park's watch commander this a.m. he said there was nothing going on and the night was quiet.

If this is what passes for a quiet night in Baldwin Park, I'd hate to find out what a busy night is really like:

BALDWIN PARK - Two people who were kidnapped at Union Station were allegedly brought to the 3300 block of Big Dalton Road, where they were beaten and robbed, according to Sgt. Kevin Gauthier of the Baldwin Park Police Department.

Baldwin Park police responded to the overnight incident, but officials had little information this morning.

 

All this talk of bunco and 211s reminded me of a great TV show:

A guy in a Yankees cap is making the rounds of WaMu banks in the SGV terrorizing customers and getting away with some serious cash. Funny thing, not only does he like WaMu, but he has a favorite branch in Covina, at least that's how it looks. Here's a couple of surveillance photos, a list of locations and a poll. Enjoy.

Just Fyi the susp. that was mentioned in Wed. article hitting Wamu on Colorado Bl. is good for Wamu in Glendale 11-3, Wamu W.Covina Twice, 10-2 & 7-21 plus others.

Checking out the FBI's labankrobbers.org 

This from the Bank Terrorism blog:

At 9:38 AM on Wednesday, October 15, 2008, three black males entered the Citibank Mall of Orange Branch in Orange, CA with drawn handguns and executed a takeover robbery. The suspects ordered customers and personnel to the floor, stole a large sum of cash from a customer who was at the bank to open an account, took cash from two tellers and then forced bank personnel into the bank's vault. A Personal Banker was accosted by one suspect who ripped the employee's wrist watch from his arm. No other injuries were sustained. It is believed that there was a fourth individual involved in this robbery who stood by in what is believed to be a light colored Toyota Corolla. There is no known description of this drive.
 
The suspects are described as two thin black males wearing hooded sweatshirts and another black male wearing a "bucket hat" (see photo on left) who was considered as being more muscular. All had handguns, but the guns were not readily identifiable. The robbery lasted approximately four minutes. There were no injuries to any of Citibank's customers or personnel. The bank did not reopen for business.

Authorities said the Alhambra Shotgun Bandit responsible for a robbery at Cathay Bank on Sept. 27 is in custody. Details to come.