A 61-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a bank robbery in Los Angeles County earlier this year, as well as a second attempted robbery and assault months later, officials announced Wednesday.
In a news release, authorities at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said the first incident occurred on June 21 at California Bank and Trust in Acton.
The suspect, now identified as Joseph Bennett, reportedly entered the bank wearing a surgical mask and approached a teller. While simulating that he had a firearm, he demanded a bag filled with money.
“Fearing the suspect was armed with a firearm, the teller complied with the suspect’s demands,” the release noted. “The suspect fled the bank with several dollars in stolen U.S. currency.”
Exactly four months later, on Nov. 21, detectives say the 61-year-old approached a woman outside Northrup Gruman Credit Union in the 4100 block of Sierra Highway in Palmdale at around 9:30 a.m. after the victim was done doing business inside.
“The suspect, armed with a handgun, demanded her purse,” LASD said. “When the victim refused to hand over her purse, the suspect physically assaulted her with his fists.”
Fortunately, the woman was able to get inside her vehicle and flee the scene without any of her property stolen. She was also able to notate a portion of the suspect’s license plate as he fled the area in a white-colored pickup truck and report it to investigators.
With that information, detectives with LASD’s Major Crimes Bureau were able to identify Bennett as the possible suspect and take him into custody on Nov. 27.
“A search of the vehicle and a nearby residence he was believed to be staying at revealed evidence believed to have been used in both robberies,” the release noted.
After presenting the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the 61-year-old, who remains in custody on $250,000 bail, was charged with robbery and attempted robbery, both felonies.
Anyone with information about this investigation is urged to contact LASD’s Major Crimes Bureau at 562-946-7037. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
