Serial Bank Robber Strikes Again – This Time at Redwood Credit Union in Montecito Plaza Center

One day after Central Marin Police released surveillance video of a man wanted in connection to at least six bank robberies in Marin, a man matching his description robbed the Redwood Credit Union in the Montecito Plaza shopping center in San Rafael, according to police.

San Rafael Police Cpl. Justin Graham said a man linked to bank robberies in Corte Madera, Greenbrae and Mill Valley walked into the Redwood Credit Union, passed a note to the teller demanding money and calmly walked out with an undisclosed amount of money and the note. Witness reported that there was a long line at the bank at the time and the robbery occurred with little drama.

No weapon was seen and no one was injured during the bank robbery.

The incident matched the description of the previous six bank robberies associated with the "Cotton Ball Bandit," the moniker given to him by Central Marin Police because of the pom-pom ball atop the brown knit hat with earflaps he wears to each robbery. Witnessed told police that the man matched the description of the "Cotton Ball Bandit."

The previous six robberies include:

• A Dec. 12, 2012 robbery of the Chase Bank at Corte Madera Town Center.
• A Jan. 9 robbery at Union Bank on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Greenbrae.
• An attempted bank robbery on Jan. 22 at Union Bank in the Strawberry Village shopping center.
• July 17, 2013 at Chase Bank at 437 Corte Madera Town Center
• An Aug. 2 robbery of the Citibank in the Strawberry Village shopping center.
• Aug. 21 at the Wells Fargo Bank in the Corte Madera Town Center

The alleged Redwood Credit Union robber was described as a white male adult, 40 to 45 years old, about 5’10” with slight to medium build, unshaven gray stubble, wearing a dark colored knit cap with flaps over the ears, pink T-shirt, black jacket and black jeans with holes in the knees.  

Graham said San Rafael investigators are working with Central Marin Police, the Marin County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations to identify the alleged bank robber.

Graham said the suspect should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.  

Anyone with information about this incident should call the San Rafael Police Department at 415-485-3000 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. Tips can also be made online at www.bayareacrimestoppers.org or provided by using the SRPD Silent Witness tip form available at www.srpd.org/tips.