The Sunnyvale Sun
News
Police arrest suspected 'Gilligan' bank robber
By Stephen Baxter
A Redwood City man suspected in at least 10 bank robberies in the Bay Area, including a 2003 heist at a Wells Fargo in Sunnyvale, was arrested May 21 and charged with murdering his wife.
The bank robber had been dubbed the "Gilligan Robber" for wearing a floppy fisherman's hat during his heists. Robert Lomas, 51, was booked in San Mateo County Jail and charged with several counts of robbery and one count of homicide, said Steve Wagstaffe, chief deputy district attorney of San Mateo County.
The body of Linda Lomas, 50, was found May 21 in an apartment on Huntington Avenue in Redwood City. In April, Lomas was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence against her.
On May 9, he was sentenced to 15 days in San Mateo County Jail, three years of probation and some domestic-violence classes. He is now being held without bail.
The "Gilligan" robber was so dubbed because the hat he wore reminded witnesses of Bob Denver's role on TV's Gilligan's Island.
"He's a big fat guy with a Gilligan hat," said Redwood City Police Sgt. Steve Blanc.
Wagstaffe said under questioning Lomas admitted to several bank robberies, and he allegedly matched images captured on bank surveillance cameras.
Authorities searched for "Gilligan" for robberies in Sunnyvale, Union City, Newark, Redwood City and San Carlos. Since April 21, police said he returned to three of the banks from his spree four years ago, and they feared he would return to Sunnyvale.
The robbery in Sunnvyale was May 8, 2003, at Wells Fargo at 1202 E. Arques Ave.
"Gilligan" was described as standing 6-1 to 6-2 and weighing about 240 pounds. He wore a tan hat and denim shirt, and sometimes wore glasses and a mustache.
He demanded money loaded into a canvas bag, but he did not brandish a weapon or turn violent.
The last bank hit was May 11 at the Wells Fargo at 1071 El Camino Real at Sequoia Station in Redwood City. On May 4, "Gilligan" held up a Fremont Bank in a Newark Safeway, police said. Authorities said 45 minutes later, he demanded cash from First National Bank at 700 El Camino Real in Redwood City.
