Robbing banks with a bike

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Gabriel Falcon
AC360° Writer

The California bike-riding bank robber has struck again.

The suspect, who uses a two-wheeler for his getaways, held up a bank on Monday afternoon, the Santa Cruz Police Department said.

“He rolled in on a bike,” police spokesman Zach Friend told CNN. “We spoke to the FBI and they believe he is associated with other robberies in the San Francisco area.”

Friend said the bandit rode away on a bike in each of the hold-ups. “It could be just an easy transportation point to a vehicle,” Friend added, “so it’s quite possible there’s a vehicle parked in the neighborhood.”

According to investigators, the suspect entered the bank wearing a helmet and carrying a black messenger bag.

He handed a teller a note demanding money and stated that he had a weapon, police said. The robber left with an undisclosed amount of money.

“It’s one of those things where the teller was legitimately scared,” Friend said. “If somebody comes up to the front and says they have a gun, that is a very traumatic experience. The teller did everything she was supposed to do.”

The suspect was last seen pedaling away from the bank, a mode of transportation that Friend said may give a criminal an advantage.

“It affords greater opportunity of entering into smaller areas, alleys, hiding in driveways,” he said. “It makes the suspect smaller than a vehicle would.”

The suspect is described as a white male in his 40’s. He has brown hair and is believed to be 6’1” and 170lbs.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Santa Cruz Police at 831-420-5820