Gilroy woman loses large business cash deposit
Morgan Hill – A Gilroy woman was robbed in broad daylight last Friday as she was attempting to make a deposit at the Vineyard Town Center’s Bank of America ATM machine in downtown Morgan Hill.
Michelle Dominguez, who was with an assistant, was attacked at 6:30pm while attempting to deposit $1,727 cash from a local check cashing business, that she was carrying in a bag .
Police officers are looking for a man described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, and 160-175 pounds in connection with the robbery.
No other identifying factors are available because he was wearing a mask.
According to Morgan Hill Police Cmdr. Joe Sampson, Dominguez told police the suspect walked up to her and pushed her down onto the sidewalk. As she fell down, she said, the suspect, who was wearing a black ski mask, snatched the cash bag from her hand.
The man did not speak to her and did not show her a weapon, she told police, and she was not injured when she fell.
The suspect then fled to a blue, late 1980s model Plymouth sedan with faded and chipped blue paint.
Witnesses told police the suspect got in the passenger side of the sedan, and the driver took off in the direction of Vineyard Boulevard.
“In this particular case, it’s a bit suspicious; it does appear the robber did know the time of the drop, did know there might be a lot of cash,” Sampson said. “Possibly someone linked to someone who works near where the victim works; my guess is that someone probably did a stakeout, watched what time they made the cash drops.”
Sampson said there are precautions businesses can take that can make it more difficult for potential thieves.
“We would advise that they vary the times they make cash drops, that they vary the routes they take to the bank,” he said. “If they have enough employees, they should vary the people who do the drop. All of these will harden the target.”
The cash bag that was stolen is a gray vinyl Bank of America bag labeled Store #91741.
Anyone with any information about the robbery or the suspect is asked to contact MHPD Det. Scott Silva at 776-7323 or the anonymous tip line CRIME STOPPERS (947-STOP).
