Cerritos Bank Robber Captured in Long Beach

A man on federal probation for bank robbery was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of robbing banks in Cerritos and Manhattan Beach last week, authorities said. 

Gregory Cross, 57, was arrested at a relative's home in Long Beach around noon Tuesday by the FBI and Manhattan Beach police detective Michael Rosenberger, who said Cross "didn't try to run or hide."

The Cerritos robbery took place about 4:45 p.m. July 16 when the suspect approached a female teller at Comerica Bank located at 11355 South St. The bank robber handed the teller a deposit slip, which said something to the effect of, “This is a robbery. Give me the cash now.” The bank robber then told the teller, “no dye packs,” according to a criminal complaint filed in United States District Court. 

In fear for her life, the teller complied with the suspect’s demands and gave him cash. He then fled from the location with $1,544, according to the court documents. 

Three days later, the suspect robbed Citibank in Manhattan Village at about 1:30 p.m. when a man, described as a black male with glasses and a graying moustache, gave a note demanding money to a teller at the branch located at 2710 North Sepulveda Blvd. Rosenberger said the crime was so "low key" most people in the bank did not realize a crime was happening. A weapon was not used in the hold-up and no one was injured, Rosenberger added.

Authorities used video footage from the Citibank robbery to identify Cross and a follow-up investigation revealed that the suspect was on federal supervised release after serving a prison sentence for a bank robbery conviction in 2005.

Manhattan Beach Editor Liz Spear contributed to a portion of this report.