A local transient stole an undisclosed amount of money from a
Bank of America near Monterey and Second streets this afternoon
before police arrested him a couple of blocks away.
A local transient stole an undisclosed amount of money from a Bank of America near Monterey and Second streets this afternoon before police arrested him a couple of blocks away.
At 1:12 p.m., James Collins, 59, entered the bank, 7825 Monterey St., and placed a demand note on the counter, Sgt. Noel Provost said. Fearing for her safety, a teller gave the man an undisclosed amount of money. At some point during or after the robbery, a bank employee called police.
“The bank employees did a good job,” Provost said. “They maintained their cool and nobody got hurt.”
A witness kept Collins in sight and notified police of his whereabouts, according to police. Officers caught up with the suspect near Monterey and First streets, where they made the arrest, Provost said. Collins was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail on a charge of bank robbery.
A man who was doing remodeling work at the Oaks Motel on Monterey Street said he and a friend were walking to the motel from Jack in the Box when he saw police surround the suspect and arrest him near a bus stop. The witness, who wouldn’t give his name, said the suspect appeared to be an older man who was wearing a suit jacket and blue pants.
“He kind of looked like he wasn’t all there,” the man said.
The robber did not have any weapons, police said. No customers or employees were injured during the robbery. It appeared that about 10 customers and several employees were inside the bank at the time, Provost said. However, some customers didn’t even know the robbery was taking place.
Police were still turning away customers more than 30 minutes after the incident, and the bank was sealed off by police tape.
“This is the story of my life,” said one annoyed customer, as he headed back to his car.
Most customers were a bit more sympathetic.
Bank of America customer Martin Rivera entered the bank just before police arrived but after the robbery, and he said bank tellers appeared frightened.
“They were acting scared, especially the girls,” Rivera said.
Detectives contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Police believe today’s robbery was an isolated incident, but they are conducting further investigations to determine whether Collins committed any other unsolved robberies.
