*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***

Contact:  Officer Joe Okies  #71

                 BPD Public Information Officer

                 (510) 981- 5752

Two Bank Robberies Occur Within 24 Hours
Suspects Photographed Identification Needed

Berkeley, California (Tuesday October 5, 2004) – On September 29^th and 30^th The City Of Berkeley was the site of what appears to be 2 unrelated bank robberies. 

The first robbery occurred at approximately 4:45 in the afternoon on September 29th when the suspect entered the Wells Fargo located at 1095 University Avenue.  The suspect threatened the teller and demanded money. The teller gave the suspect money and he fled the bank.  

The suspect in Case #1 (left photograph) is described as a:

Black male adult, in his mid 20’s, approximately 6 feet tall, and185lbs.  The suspect had a “corn row” hairstyle. 

The second robbery occurred on September 30^th at approximately 11:09 in the morning at the Union Bank of California located at 2333 Shattuck. The suspect robbed the bank via threat, and then fled.  This person is a suspect in several Oakland bank robberies.

The suspect in Case #2 (right photograph) is described as a:

             Black male adult between 35 and 40 years old, approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall

Sgt. Spiller from the Berkeley Police Robbery Detail said, “We are very concerned because these robberies occurred in the middle of the day in populated areas of the city.  It’s really important to get these guys into custody.”