Police took a Mountain View resident into custody early Friday morning in connection with a series of bank robberies in Pleasanton and Campbell, during which the suspect allegedly entered the three banks dressed in a jacket and tie and handed the teller a demand note.
After receiving an anonymous tip, Campbell police arrested Numan Pinarli, 22, at 1:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, at his home on Castro Street, according to Captain Greg Finch. Pinarli was in the U.S. on a student visa to attend Foothill Community College, but district spokeswoman Becky Bartindale said he last registered for Foothill classes in spring 2007.
Police said they did not know his immigration status.
Pinarli allegedly robbed a bank in Pleasanton on Oct. 30, and then the Guaranty Bank in Campbell the next day. He allegedly robbed Washington Mutual several weeks later on Nov. 10. He is charged with three counts of robbery.
During all three incidents, Pinarli allegedly dressed up and either wore or carried a knit cap with him. He never used the cap to “disguise himself,” Finch said, and instead just wore it down to his ears. Pinarli handed the teller a note saying he had a weapon. Surveillance cameras caught images of Pinarli, police said.
“What is unique about this is the guy was pretty well dressed,” Finch said. “He always went in the same clothes.”
Police sent out a press release with his image following the second robbery. They said he made off with up to $14,000 in one of the heists, but Finch did not know the total amount of money Pinarli allegedly took.
Police were able to catch a better image of Pinarli during the Washington Mutual robbery, since he was not wearing the cap, but instead held it. After sending out another press release, they received an anonymous tip on Thursday and arrested Pinarli on Friday.
Campbell police said Pinarli was compliant, and is currently being held on $100,000 bail. The suspect had prior offenses, including petty theft, but Finch said it was “really minor stuff. No violence or anything.”•
E-mail Casey Weiss at cweiss@mv-voice.com
