Bank robber & car thief arrested

by Ken Kiunke , January 29, 2013

Police released this surveillance image last week, which helped identify the culprit

The Roseville and Rocklin police departments have announced the arrest of a man suspected in two bank robberies and two car thefts.

On Tuesday, January 22nd at 12:45 in the afternoon, the U.S. Bank located inside Safeway Grocery at 989 Sunrise in Roseville was held up by a man described as white, mid to late 20s, with a scruffy beard and wearing large winter gloves. With his sunglasses perched above his eyes, he was caught in the bank’s surveillance camera as he made off with an undisclosed amount of cash. He showed no weapon, but presented the teller with a note demanding the money.

The US Bank inside this Safeway was robbed last Tuesday 1/22

Apparently happy with the results, that Friday he visited another U.S. Bank branch in the Safeway at 9045 Woodcreek Oaks, and using the same modus operandi, made off with cash from that branch as well.

In the meantime, the released surveillance photos prompted an anonymous tip to Roseville Crime Stoppers from someone who recognized the bank robber as Randy Penny. Once identified, Roseville Police detectives were able to connect him to two car thefts, one in Sierra Gardens, a neighborhood near the first bank robbery, and another from the town of Antelope, which is in North Sacramento County near Roseville.

The US Bank in this Safeway was robbed 3 days later

According to a Roseville Police press release, at 1:42 AM this morning (Tuesday 1/29), a Rocklin police officer on routine patrol spotted a suspicious car at Sierra College Blvd. and Taylor Road. When the officer ran the plates, it was identified as one of the cars Penny was suspected of stealing. The officer pulled him over and arrested Penny without further incident. Roseville detectives were notified of his arrest, and booked the 31-year-old Antelope resident into Placer County Jail on charges of robbery and vehicle theft.