SEATTLE — A 49-year-old man is in custody this weekend after committing two bank robberies in the Seattle area, with authorities tracking him down thanks to a key piece of evidence discovered at a local thrift store.
On January 16, the suspect entered Columbia Bank on Broadway Avenue East and handed a teller a robbery note, claiming he was armed and demanding cash. The teller complied, and the man fled on foot. Police collected evidence at the scene, including latent fingerprints, but were initially unable to apprehend the suspect.
Hours later, an employee at Goodwill on Capitol Hill discovered a robbery note left in a changing room and called 911. Officers responded and reviewed video footage from the store, which led them to the suspect. Police quickly located and arrested the man, recovering cash believed to be stolen from the Columbia Bank robbery.
During questioning, detectives linked the suspect to a similar-style robbery the day before at the Downtown BECU on 6th Avenue.
The man was booked into King County Jail for both robberies. Investigators with the Robbery Unit are handling the ongoing investigation.
Incident Numbers: 2026-15344; 2026-13982
Goodwill hunting: Cops track down bank robber after finding evidence in thrift shop:https://t.co/6NXIhqhuZK
— Seattle Police Department (@SeattlePD) January 18, 2026
