Dublin Police Arrest 'Hat-Wearing' Bank Robbery Suspect

Dublin police announced Thursday that they have arrested a man responsible for robbing a US Bank branch there on June 12. Authorities believe he may be the man who has robbed banks in several other East Bay cities, including two branch banks in Alameda.

Alameda police did not comment on the arrest Thursday but hinted that there might be "news" concerning the two local robberies soon.

The man is also suspected of robbing banks in San Leandro, Pleasanton and Lafayette. Surveillance photos from several of the robberies show a white or Hispanic male, 30 to 35 years old, about 6’ tall and weighing about 200 to 220 lbs. Surveillance photos have shown the man wearing different types of hats during the robberies.

According to a press release by Dublin Police Services, "On Wednesday, June 27, 2012, Dublin Police identified the person responsible for Dublin’s US Bank robbery on June 12, 2012.

"Acting on a lead, learned that Raymond David Lopez, who lives in Chicago and Arizona, was arrested by San Leandro Police Department on an unrelated offense on June 26, 2012, and was due for arraignment at 2:00 P.M. at the Hayward Courthouse for the San Leandro arrest.

"Detectives responded to the Hayward Courthouse, while other detectives made contact with US Bank staff working the date of the robbery for the purposes of a photo line-up. The US Bank manager was able to positively identify the suspect as Raymond David Lopez.

"Detectives subsequently contacted Lopez after he was released on his own recognizance from the Hayward Courthouse on his San Leandro arrest, and was arrested by Dublin Police for their robbery. Lopez was transported to the Dublin Police station where he admitted to committing the Dublin bank robbery.

"Lopez also admitted to committing seven other bank robberies within California and one in Texas."

The first possibly related Alameda robbery occurred at the 1st Community Bank branch inside the Nob Hill market, 2531 Blanding Ave., on May 26. The robber wore a long-sleeved red shirt and a white fedora-type hat on that occasion.

The second robbery took place at the US Bank branch inside the Safeway supermarket at 2227 South Shore Center on June 4. On that occasion the robber was wearing sunglasses, a black sweatshirt and a black beanie.

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