Los Gatos Police Nab Serial Bank Robber Suspect

The Los Gatos/Monte Sereno police department announced the arrest of a man they say has robbed seven banks across the South Bay over the past few months.

Investigators said they have been searching for the man dubbed "the Black Binder Bandit" since early November. Their investigation concluded April 15 with the arrest of Leroy Wierzchowicz of San Jose.

The suspect was called the binder bandit because he would open up a black binder to show tellers a note demanding money. They said he also displayed a handgun.

The cases preliminarily attributed to this suspect are listed as follows:

1. 11-1-10, Chase Bank at 1866 Camden Ave, San Jose (San Jose PD)
2. 11-15-10, Bank of the West, 14948 Camden Ave, San Jose (Santa Clara County SO)
3. 11-29-10, Union Bank, 2007 Camden Ave, San Jose (San Jose PD)
4. 12-8-10, Comerica Bank, Mission St, Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz PD)
5. 12-27-10, Wells Fargo Bank, 3053 Meridian Ave, San Jose (San Jose PD)
6. 2-7-11, Wells Fargo Bank, 150 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos (Los Gatos/Monte Sereno PD)
7. 2-25-11, Comerica Bank, 444 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos (Los Gatos/Monte Sereno PD)

Police said security cameras in some of the above robberies gave them a good picture of the robber.

Then during the February robbery in Los Gatos police said a very aware witness wrote down the license plate of the getaway car.

That plate number lead investigators to a vehicle in a San Jose wrecking yard. Evidence from that car helped police identify Wierzchowicz as its last owner.

A photo line up identified him as a suspect in two of the robberies. After that police contacted Wierzchowicz and searched his home where they say they found evidence that links him to the crimes.

Wierzchowicz was booked at the Santa Clara County Jail charged with multiple counts of armed robbery.

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