Bank Robbery Suspect Arrested 

June 6, 2024 – Riverside County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on June 4, 2024, at approximately 11:51 a.m., Southwest Sheriff’s Station deputies responded to a bank in the 40400 Block of Margarita Road in the city of Temecula, reference a panic alarm at the business. Upon arrival, deputies spoke with bank employees who confirmed a robbery had just occurred. The suspect was described as an Asian male adult last seen wearing a blue shirt, baseball cap, and carrying an orange bag. It was learned the suspect passed a note to the teller demanding money. The teller complied and the suspect fled the location with an undisclosed amount of money before deputies arrived. No victims were injured during the incident.

While deputies were on scene investigating the robbery, it was learned two additional bank robberies occurred in the city of Murrieta utilizing the same method and same suspect description. In one of the incidents, a suspect vehicle was identified and located a short time later by officers from the Murrieta Police Department in the 35000 Block of Crickhowell Avenue, Murrieta. Officers conducted a high-risk vehicle stop and took the driver and sole occupant, Sonny Tho Leu, a 62-year-old resident of Murrieta, into custody without incident.

The Southwest Sheriff’s Station’s Robbery/Burglary Suppression Team (RBST) responded and assumed the investigation. Through investigative means, Leu was positively identified as the suspect responsible for the three bank robberies. Southwest Station RBST worked collaboratively with Detectives from Murrieta Police Department. A search warrant was served on Leu’s residence and vehicle, during which several items of evidentiary value were located connecting Leu to each of the robberies.

Leu was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center for multiple counts of robbery and criminal threats. Anyone with additional information related to the robbery that occurred in Temecula is encouraged to contact Sergeant J. Hephner of the Southwest Station RBST Team at (951) 304-5087.

Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Josh Hephner

File: TE241560118

Source: Riverside County Sheriff’s Office