Authorities have arrested a suspected bank robber in connection with at least two incidents in Los Angeles County since June.
According to a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, officers were dispatched to the California Bank and Trust in Acton on June 21 after learning of a reported bank robbery. Upon arrival, they learned that a man wearing a surgical mask approached a cashier and “simulated having a firearm” before demanding they fill a bag with money.
“Fearing that the suspect was armed with a firearm, the cashier complied with the suspect’s demands,” the statement said. He allegedly made off with several hundred dollars.
Months later, on Nov. 21 around 9:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to Northrup Gruman Credit Union, located in the 4100 block of Sierra Highway in Palmdale, according to LASD.
They say a male suspect confronted a female victim as she left the bank and was on her way back to her car.
“The suspect, armed with a handgun, demanded her wallet,” the LASD statement said. “When the victim refused to hand over her bag, the suspect physically assaulted her with his fists.”
The woman was able to get into her car and flee the area, but before doing so managed to obtain a partial license plate number from the suspect’s white pickup truck as he fled the scene. He couldn’t take anything from the woman, officers noted.
Investigators were able to identify the suspect as 61-year-old Joseph Bennett, the statement said.
He was found in Palmdale on Wednesday, November 27, driving the truck used in the attempted robbery days earlier. Officers stopped him and he was arrested.
“A search of the vehicle and a nearby residence where he was believed to be staying revealed evidence believed to have been used during both robberies,” LASD said.
Bennett now faces charges of theft and attempted theft after the case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in cooperation with the FBI.
He remains jailed on $250,000 bail.
Anyone with information is urged to contact investigators at (562) 946-7037.
