A 77-year-old man who allegedly robbed an Escondido bank Wednesday was arrested a short time later during a traffic stop near the scene of the crime.
A masked man handed a demand note to a teller at the US Bank branch office in the 2300 block of East Valley Parkway shortly after 10:30 a.m., according to the Escondido Police Department.
The robber’s message stated that he had a gun, though no witnesses saw one, Sgt. Robert Craig said.
After the clerk handed over about $1,000 in cash, the bandit left the bank and drove off in a Prius, the sergeant said.
At about 11 a.m., an officer spotted the vehicle in the area of East Grand Avenue and Harding Street, about a mile west of the bank, and stopped the driver. After identifying the man as the suspected robber, officers took him into custody, Craig said.
The arrestee’s identity was not immediately available.
Updated at 8:25 p.m. June 4, 2025
