By Rick Elkins
Visalia - It was a fairly routine day at West America Bank on West Main Street in Visalia until a man with red hair and a dark colored jacket approached a teller at about 2:45 p.m. and gave her a note saying he was robbing the bank.
The West America holdup about two weeks ago was the sixth in Visalia in the past year - the fifth since September.
"Five in a year - that's a little more than usual," said Sgt. Steve Phillips, spokesman for the Visalia Police Department.
Phillips said the robberies - probably the most brazen crime that can occur - could be a sign of the tough economic times, but he is not sure. In two of the cases a local man was arrested and charged. The others remain unsolved and police are not saying if any other suspects are local men or not.
Phillips did say none of the robberies were committed by the same person and it appears all are separate of each other. In only one of the last five incidents did the suspect actually show a gun, Phillips said.
Gerry Beckers, president of Visalia Community Bank, which was hit last year, said that robber placed his gun on the counter.
"We have a staff meeting every year and go through the whole training," with the intention to comply with the robber and ensure no one is hurt, Beckers said.
Employees are told: "Keep yourself safe and let then have what they want," Beckers said. "And, be a good witness."
That is exactly the advice given by Phillips. "It's not worth taking a risk - risking your life. Best thing is being a good witness."
Another key witness is the video equipment in every bank - equipment that is much better today than years ago. The images VPD have put out have been fairly clear and Beckers agreed the video is much better. Every bank is required to have an operating video surveillance system.
However, unlike the popular TV shows, if the video is not clear, they cannot simply send it to some crime lab that will miraculously make it clearer, said Phillips.
In addition to the North Dinuba Boulevard branch of Visalia Community Bank, other banks hit in 2009 were Bank of America (twice), Bank of the West on Mooney, Suncrest Bank on Center Street and West America, which is just a couple of blocks from the main Visalia police station.
"We had like 23 cars there in minutes," said Phillips, but by then the suspect was long gone and they had no description of how he got away.
In each instance, police responded to the alarm. "When we approach we do so they don't notice us," said Phillips, explaining they want to avoid a hostage situation.
"Most are gone. Most are in the bank only a couple of minutes," he added.
He said in most bank robberies, no one but the teller is aware of what is happening.
Phillips said it puzzles him as to why people want to rob banks. "The amount of money you get compared to the risk is kind of crazy," he said. For most first offenses, the suspects are tried in state courts, but for more than one it becomes a federal crime and for a first offense, "you're looking at 20 years. And if it's a federal crime, you're going to do the 20 years."
After each robbery, the FBI is notified. If the suspect is a local person, Phillips said Visalia police will likely make the arrest. If it is a person who is working a region, then the FBI is more likely to handle the case.
Other than the economy, Phillips cannot
explain the increase. He said some are probably done by people working
along Highway 99, although the department has not received specific warnings
of a rash of bank robberies along the Valley highway.
"Why all of sudden did these five different guys decide to rob banks?"
Phillips asked.
In the most recent holdup at West America, the suspect was described as 5-foot-7, in his 40s, 160 pounds and wearing a light color shirt. In the Suncrest Bank holdup, the suspect was described as a Hispanic male, about 30 years old, 5-foot tall and weighing 160 pounds. In the Bank of the West holdup in October, the suspect was described as a Hispanic male, 20 years old, 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds.
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