Campbell, CA – On January 10, 2017, the Campbell Police Department made an arrest of an individual suspected of committing two bank robberies over the last three months.
On October 28, 2016, at approximately 11:30 am, a bank robbery occurred at the Chase Bank located at 1605 S. Winchester Blvd in Campbell. Surveillance video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mnQpcrgeew) showed the suspect walk into the bank and approach a teller. The suspect made threats to the teller that he had a gun; however, no weapon was seen. After the teller handed over money, the suspect exited through the east doors of the bank and was last seen walking southbound on Winchester Blvd.
On December 20, 2016, at approximately 10:00 am, another bank robbery occurred at the same Chase Bank on S. Winchester Blvd. What appeared to be the same suspect as the October robbery approached a teller and demanded money. After receiving the cash, the suspect exited through the east doors of the bank towards Winchester Blvd.
During the investigation, a Campbell Police Sergeant recalled a similar robbery that occurred in 2006 at the Bank of the West on S. Winchester Blvd. In that case, a suspect who lived a short distance from the bank was identified and arrested for the robbery. That suspect, identified as Ermec Antonio Avalos, 32 years of Campbell, matched the description of the recent Chase Bank robberies.
Campbell Detectives determined that Mr. Avalos was on active parole for robbery and only lived a block away from the Chase Bank. On January 10, 2017, Campbell Detectives conducted a parole search at Mr. Avalos’ residence and located evidence related to the two robberies.
Mr. Avalos was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on two counts of robbery and is currently in custody with bail listed at $250,000.
Anyone has any information about the bank robberies or Mr. Avalos is asked to call our Investigations Unit at (408) 871-5190. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through our free mobile application (Campbell Police Department), downloadable from the App Store or Google Play.
