LAMORINDA, CA — Three suspects wanted in connection with a recent attempted strong-armed robbery in Lafeyette were arrested when they robbed an elderly man outside a bank in Napa, police said.
Shortly before 11:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 28, Napa officers saw a car sought by the Lafayette Police Department. Officers decided to do a quick yet high-risk traffic stop of the suspects near the intersection of Solano Avenue and West Lincoln Avenue.
Officers detained the three people in the car, who were identified as Jefferson Cadena-Barragan, Rogelber Vargas-Hernandez and Kevin Cuestas Vargas.
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While officers were at the traffic stop, dispatchers notified them that a theft had just been reported outside the Wells Fargo bank at 3255 Jefferson St. in Napa.
A 68-year-old man made a large cash withdrawal at the bank. He was in his car preparing to leave when the suspects worked collectively to distract the victim and remove the money from the front seat of his car. It was reported the robbers drove off, cash in hand.
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An investigation revealed the three people in the stopped car matched the description of the suspects in the Wells Fargo theft. Furthermore, Napa police Lt. Keri Sedgley said the modus operandi—MO—was similar to the Lafayette case.
Crime reports for Lafayette show an attempted strong-armed robbery was reported at 2:22 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, outside a local bank.
Napa police arrested Cadena-Barragan, Vargas-Hernandez and Cuestas Vargas on suspicion of grand theft, elder abuse and conspiracy, police said. The trio was booked into the Napa County jail.
The money was recovered from one of the suspects and returned to the victim.
“We are thankful that no one was injured during this criminal act against our community member,” Sedgley said. “Remember to be aware of your surroundings when leaving businesses. Promptly reporting any suspicious activity can prevent potential crime and protect others.”
On Monday, jail records the trio was no longer in custody in Napa County.
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