Today, Oakland's busy Piedmont Avenue was interrupted when a man walked into the Wells Fargo branch at 151 40th Street, handed a teller a handwritten note indicating he had a gun, and walked out with an undisclosed amount of cash, according to police reports. The suspect was last seen heading southbound on Piedmont Avenue, and investigators are asking nearby residents and businesses to review doorbell and security-camera footage for potential leads.
How police say it unfolded
Oakland police say the robbery happened at about 2:38 PM, when the man stepped up to a teller, presented a handwritten demand, and simulated a firearm tucked inside his jacket. Employees complied, and the suspect left the Wells Fargo at 151 40th Street with an undisclosed sum, as reported by the East Bay Times.
Suspect description and leads
Police describe the suspect as a white man about 6 feet 2 inches tall and roughly 220 pounds, with long brownish hair. He was wearing a black leather jacket and blue jeans at the time of the robbery, according to the police reports. Anyone with information or video is asked to contact the Oakland Police Robbery Unit at (510) 238-3326, according to the Oakland Police Department.
Neighborhood context
Piedmont Avenue is a busy commercial strip, and robberies have been a persistent safety concern in parts of Oakland this year. Reporting in the San Francisco Chronicle notes that investigators are tracking suspects in a string of armed robberies across the city, including an early April case in which suspects fired at officers.
The Wells Fargo branch involved is the Fortieth Piedmont location at 151 40th Street, per Wells Fargo. Police have not publicly announced any arrests in connection with the robbery. Anyone with tips is urged to call the Robbery Unit at (510) 238-3326.
