“Point Break” Bank Robbery Crew Suspects Busted By San Jose Police

Witnesses say it’s straight out of a movie.

Members of a sophisticated crew dubbed "Point Break," suspected in bank robberies in San Jose and Campbell, were arrested Tuesday in a joint operation by law enforcement agencies in four counties, a San Jose police spokeswoman said.

An investigation by San Jose and Campbell police and the FBI led to the arrests of the suspects after search warrants were issued in Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito and Fresno counties with the assistance of Fresno, Watsonville and Salinas police, San Jose police Sgt. Heather Randol said.

Daniel Chavez, 32, of Salinas, Antonio Chavez, 22, of Watsonville, and Jesse Hernandez, 24, of Fresno, were arrested on suspicion of bank robbery with gun enhancements and false imprisonment for the purposes of benefiting a gang, according to Randol.

The Point Break crew, each considered members of a Norteno street gang based in Salinas, are suspects in the recent "take over" robberies of a string of banks in San Jose and Campbell, Randol said.

San Jose police Sgt. Larry Day described them as "the most sophisticated crew of bank robbers he has seen in quite some time," according to Randol.

The men are expected to be booked Tuesday into the Santa Clara County Main Jail following interviews with San Jose police, she said.

San Jose police lead the investigation into the robberies and police from Campbell and Salinas were instrumental in the probe that led to the apprehension of the crew, according to Randol.

The FBI assisted because it also has jurisdiction over bank robbery cases in the United States, she said.

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