The highly unusual spate of felony crimes in Los Gatos has the Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Dept. juggling multiple investigations. First, the Washington Mutual branch was robbed July 28, followed by a similar robbery at the US Bank August 1. Then, a pickup truck was burned Aug. 6, threatening a catastrophic hillside fire, and vandals burned the play structure at Live Oak Manor Park Aug. 13. None of these crimes have been solved; no arrests have been made.
The man originally detained in connection with the US Bank robbery was released later that day. The suspect was described as an unusually tall man who left by the back alley. Police detained a tall man less than two blocks south down that alley, but were apparently unable to find the bank's stolen property. One theory is that the actual robber headed north instead.
"We have nothing more at this point," Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Capt. David Gravel told the Observer.
The two men who robbed the WaMu on 7/28 may have robbed another bank in Palo Alto on 8/2 using a similar method. One man hangs back, hands in his pockets, simulating a weapon, while the other approaches the teller demanding cash. This is a different approach than that used at US Bank, where the lone man passed a note.
Both recent arsons are being investigated by the Santa Clara County Fire Dept. as lead agency, with the LGMSPD assisting. County arson investigator Dennis Johnsen did not return calls requesting information for this article.
The pickup truck fire reportedly involved a dispute between a contractor working on Cypress Way and his contractees. It has been said that the contractees ordered the contractor out of his truck and then lit it on fire. Whoever lit the fire ignored the danger of it spreading to the dry brush and quickly growing out of control, threatening the many homes in the Aztec Ridge area.
2008 is turning out to be unusual year for our relatively crime-free little town.
Related Articles
Los Gatos Playlot Goes Up In Flames (8/16/08)
Car Fire in Los Gatos Hills Quickly Put Out (8/6/08)
Los Gatos Police Nab Bank Robber (8/1/08)
Los Gatos WaMu Bank Robbed (7/30/08)
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