Local PD offers helpful advice for would-be bank robbers

And in “Today’s Lighter Side of the News…”

TEMECULA — In the wake of a bungling bank robbery and arrest of a 56-year-old, San Diego man this last weekend, the ever-helpful deputies assigned to patrolling the southern-most Riverside County city of Temecula have offered some sage, seemingly obvious advice for other, would-be bank robbers looking to make a living off such nefarious activities.

In a tongue-in-cheek social media post that has already been viewed and shared thousands of times, in which they described their police work as “Super Trooper-level awesome” – referring to the ‘Super Trooper’ movies – TPD brought up simple, common sense things really. Easy to remember things such as making sure your getaway vehicle is in good working condition with a freshly charged battery, not to waste too much time jump-starting your car, and not to drive straight to – and park conspicuously outside – the nearest casino to spend your ill-gotten gains. (See TPD’s humorous Facebook post describing Saturday’s bank robbery below.)

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After a record-quick robbery investigation, deputies located, identified, and arrested, Thomas Albert Bentley. “Bentley is suspected of committing similar robberies in nearby counties and states,” according to Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Collazo. However, based on his most recent robbery, it is not yet known how Bentley has managed to get away with other bank robberies and similar crimes he is suspected of committing.

Deputies assigned to Temecula Police Department were first alerted to this weekend’s comical incident around 1:15 p.m., Collazo explained in a written press release, which was separate from the humorous social media post. The robbery was reported at Chase Bank, on the 32000 block of Temecula Parkway.

During their subsequent investigation, deputies learned a man, later identified as Bentley, “entered the bank and handed a demand note to an employee,” said Collazo. “The employee cooperated and handed the suspect an undisclosed amount of cash.” 

Unfortunately for Bentley, the car he had brought to the bank and planned to use for his escape to financial freedom was nowhere near as nice as his name would suggest, and the bank-robbing buffoon’s get rich quick scheme quickly began falling apart when he found his car’s battery was nearly as dead as his bank robbing caree.

Although Bentley eventually managed to jump-start his car and slowly flee the area, it was not until numerous witnesses got a good, long look at both him and his lackluster getaway vehicle.

Temecula deputies investigating the robbery headed the direction Bentley’s rattly old car was last seen heading and were not at all surprised to find it parked less than four miles away, at nearby Pechanga Casino. Within minutes, deputies located and apprehended Bentley inside the casino, as he was giddily gambling away the money he managed to hang on to for less than two hours.

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After his arrest, Bentley was booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of robbery. Jail records indicate he remains in custody on $500,000 bail and was scheduled to be arraigned at Murrieta’s Southwest Justice Center today.

Collazo did not provide further details regarding the other bank robberies Bentley is suspected of committing.

Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact Temecula PD Investigator Fisher at (951) 696-3000. Callers can refer to incident file number TE190190095 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.

And in “Today’s Lighter Side of the News…”

TEMECULA — In the wake of a bungling bank robbery and arrest of a 56-year-old, San Diego man this last weekend, the ever-helpful deputies assigned to patrolling the southern-most Riverside County city of Temecula, just north of San Diego County have offered some sage, seemingly obvious advice for other, would-be bank robbers looking to make a living off such nefarious activities.

In a tongue-in-cheek social media post that has already been viewed and shared thousands of times, in which they described their police work as “Super Trooper-level awesome,” referring to the ‘Super Trooper’ movies, TPD brought up simple, common sense things really; such as making sure your getaway vehicle is in good working condition with a freshly charged battery, and not to drive straight to and park conspicuously outside the nearest casino to spend your ill-gotten money. (See TPD’s humorous Facebook post describing Saturday’s bank robbery below.)

LEADING THE RCNS HEADLINES:

After a record-quick robbery investigation deputies located, identified, and arrested, Thomas Albert Bentley. “Bentley is suspected of committing similar robberies in nearby counties and states,” according to Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Collazo. However, based on his most recent robbery, it is not yet known how Bentley has managed to get away with other bank robberies and similar crimes he is suspected of committing.

Deputies assigned to Temecula Police Department were first alerted to this weekend’s comical incident around 1:15 p.m., Saturday afternoon, when they responded to reports of a bank robbery, Collazo later explained in a written press release, separate from the humorous social media post. The robbery was reported at Chase Bank, on the 32000 block of Temecula Parkway.

During their subsequent investigation, deputies learned a man, later identified as Bentley, “entered the bank and handed a demand note to an employee,” said Collazo. “The employee cooperated and handed the suspect an undisclosed amount of cash.” 

Unfortunately for Bentley, the car he had brought to the bank and planned to use for his escape to financial freedom was nowhere near as nice as his name would suggest, and the bank-robbing buffoon’s get rich quick scheme quickly began falling apart when he found his car’s battery was all but dead and would not start.

Although Bentley eventually managed to start his car and slowly flee the area, it was not until numerous witnesses got a good, long look at both him and his lackluster getaway vehicle.

Temecula deputies investigating the robbery headed in the direction Bentley’s rattly old car was last seen heading and were not at all surprised to find it parked less than four miles away, at the nearby Pechanga Casino. Within minutes, deputies located and apprehended Bentley inside the casino, as he was giddily gambling away the money he managed to hang on to for less than two hours.

SEE OTHER “LIGHTER SIDE OF THE NEWS…” STORIES:

After his arrest, Bentley was booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of robbery. Jail records indicate he remains in custody on $500,000 bail and was scheduled to be arraigned at Murrieta’s Southwest Justice Center today.

Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact Temecula PD Investigator Fisher at (951) 696-3000. Callers can refer to incident file number TE190190095 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.