'Roof Top Serial Bank Heist Crew' Captured After Year-Long Investigation

MONTEREY PARK (CBSLA.com) — A year-long investigation has led to the arrest of five men dubbed the "Roof Top Serial Bank Heist Crew", Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials announced Wednesday.

The five men were arrested last Friday, officials said.

According to the LACSO's Major Crimes Unit, the crew, wearing matching uniforms, gloves and shoes, "accessed the roofs of banks and used power tools to gain access into the cement vaults" beginning in Aug. 2012.

Authorities believe the suspects — 38-year-old Laurentiu Penescu of Yucaipa, 32-year-old Lucian Isaia of Beaumont, 44-year-old Alceu Andreis of Banning; 45-year-old Dean Muniz of Fontana; and 36-year-old Daniel
Soto of Riverside — are responsible for at least three bank burglaries in Walnut, Diamond Bar and Rowland Heights and stole about $6 million from bank vaults and safety deposit boxes.

"The suspects did not work for a bank, but went on numerous scouting missions to get the layout of the bank," Sheriff Lee Baca said.

It wasn't until September of last year that detectives finally got a break in their case.

Officials said one of the suspects left behind DNA during a heist which allowed detectives to identify them, tail them, and finally make an arrest on April 5 at a Citibank in Diamond Bar.

"They penetrated the roof of the bank, exposing the vault, however were going to come back possibly the following night to actually do the vault," Det. Nick Cannis said.

Bail has been set at $500,000 for all five suspects.