Santa Barbara police officials have issued a photograph and provided new information concerning an armed robbery that occurred at a Bank of America branch in Montecito. The incident took place on Wednesday afternoon at the location situated on Coast Village Road. Law enforcement agencies are currently searching for the individual responsible and are requesting assistance from the public to identify him.
The Santa Barbara Police Department Communications Center received several emergency calls just before 3 p.m. on Wednesday, reporting that a robbery was in progress at the bank located at 1096 Coast Village Road. Responding officers and sheriff deputies arrived at the scene and initiated a thorough search for the suspect, but they were unable to locate him.
Surveillance video captured a middle-aged white male entering the financial institution. The man was wearing a black baseball cap, a dark jacket, and a black medical mask covering his face. He approached bank staff while holding an object that appeared to be a firearm and demanded cash.
Investigators later determined that the object was not a real weapon but rather a piece of metal shaped to resemble one. Bank employees stated that the masked individual left the premises with an undisclosed amount of money after the confrontation.
Witnesses reported seeing the suspect escape on a dark-colored bicycle. He was last observed traveling westbound along Coast Village Road. Police believe this event is an isolated occurrence and do not consider it a threat to general public safety.
