San Francisco's Financial District Sees Rash Of Bank Robberies
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) -- Police in San Francisco are searching for several suspects in a string of back robberies in the city's Financial District over the past few weeks.
Police said there have been at least 10 robberies in San Francisco since April 1st. According to Sgt. Mike Andraychak of the San Francisco Police Department, the incidents are mostly concentrated in the Financial District.
Andraychak told CBS 5 that he has to be vague on details related to the robberies and can't name the banks involved.
Investigators believe there are three serial bank robbers involved, and that the suspects are working separately. Police said two suspects are white males in their 30s, and the third is an African-American male in his early 40s.
Police have increased patrols among uniformed and plainclothes officers, Andraychak said.
A team of officers from Central station has been dispatched to the Financial District to catch the robbers, police said.
In the meantime, officers have caught a man suspected in two strong-arm street robberies in the area.
Police said 45-year old Antrell Stanifer walked up to a woman and asked her for directions outside the Crocker Galleria. As she began to answer, he allegedly snatched her purse. A passerby helped her grab it back.
Authorities said Stanifer then went into his red Jeep and drove up a block away to Bush Street, where a police officer was stationed.
"He saw a second robbery taking place, at which point he intervened and after a short struggle, he took the suspect into custody," said Lt. Edward Santos of the San Francisco police.
Stanifer has been charged with robbery and attempted robbery.
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