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Watsonville bank robbed at gunpoint Monday afternoon
[December 17, 2012]

Watsonville bank robbed at gunpoint Monday afternoon


WATSONVILLE, Dec 17, 2012 (Santa Cruz Sentinel - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A Main Street bank was robbed by two masked men Monday afternoon.

The two men enterered the Comerica Bank just before 1 p.m. and ordered everyone inside to get on the floor. One of the men had a silver revolver, Watsonville Police Sgt. Brian Ridgway said.

The two suspects threatened to harm the employees if their orders weren't followed, and one of the men jumped over the bank counter, ordering each teller to hand over the money in their drawers. The other man stayed near the door with his gun raised.



Both men then exited the bank, possibly driving off in a silver sedan last seen driving toward South Green Valley Road.

Witnesses told police the man with the gun was about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and of medium build. He was wearing a light gray hooded sweatshirt with tan pants, dark gloves and a dark mask. The second man was estimated to be 5 feet, 10 inches tall, of medium build. He was wearing a dark gray hooded sweatshirt, dark pants, black gloves and a dark mask.


Watsonville police and the FBI are investigating. Watsonville police ask anyone with information on the robbery to call the crime tipline at 728-3544 or the investigation bureau at 768-3352.

Monday's robbery was the second armed robbery of a Watsonville bank in a week. On Dec. 10, a gunman wearing a red baseball cap and a gray 49ers jacket pointed a handgun at the tellers at the Citibank on East Lake Avenue and demanded money. That man was described as being 5 feet, 8 inches tall and about 40 years old. He has not been apprehended.

___ (c)2012 the Santa Cruz Sentinel (Scotts Valley, Calif.) Visit the Santa Cruz Sentinel (Scotts Valley, Calif.) at www.santacruzsentinel.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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