Walnut Creek: Arrest in bank-robbery attempt steps from police headquarters

A suspect was in custody Thursday after an apparent afternoon attempt at robbing a bank across the street from the Walnut Creek Police Department, authorities said.

WALNUT CREEK — A 45-year-old resident was in custody Thursday after an apparent afternoon attempt at robbing a bank across the street from the city’s police department, authorities said.

In a social-media post Thursday afternoon, police said the robbery attempt happened at a branch of U.S. Bank, 1655 North Main St., which sits less than 100 yards across the street from Walnut Creek police headquarters at 1666 North Main.

Around 1:45 p.m., officers responded to a hold-up alarm and evacuated nearby businesses after learning a suspect was still inside the bank. Soon after contacting employees inside, other officers took the suspect into custody without incident.

Police added that no weapons were involved, no other suspects were outstanding, no money was taken and neither employees nor customers were injured.

The man was arrested on suspicion of robbery, as well as violating parole, police said. He was booked into Martinez county jail without bail.

Police did not share any word about a possible connection to a May 8 robbery at PNC Bank, 1101 S. California Blvd.

In that incident, officers who responded later found a suspect had passed a note to a teller, demanding money and saying he had a gun. After the teller gave the man an undisclosed amount of cash, he fled and was not found during a search. Nobody was injured.

Anyone with information may call Walnut Creek police at 925-943-5844 or the department’s anonymous tip line at 925-943-5865.

We are investigating an attempted bank robbery at the U.S. Bank branch on Civic Drive. One suspect was taken into custody without incident; there are no additional suspects. No money was taken and no one was injured. ⁰We will have an update as more information becomes available. pic.twitter.com/tIGyTnAnHS

— Walnut Creek PD (@walnutcreekpd) May 18, 2023

Staff writer Rick Hurd contributed to this report. Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.