The Turlock Police Department is investigating an armed robbery that occurred outside of a bank at the ATM.

The robbery shares similarities with two other recent robberies, but at this point investigators cannot say if it is the same perpetrator.

“They are close in nature, but we can’t say yet at this time if they are related,” said Turlock Police spokesperson Officer Steve Rodrigues.

The latest robbery occurred around 9:30 p.m. Thursday outside the Valley First Credit Union at 2655 Geer Rd.

The victim had just taken money out of the ATM when he was approached by an unknown man who pulled out a handgun and demanded cash and other personal property, Rodrigues said.

The victim complied and then ran from the robber.

Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect.

The suspect was described as a black male in his 20s. He stands about 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs around 170 pounds. He was wearing dark clothing at the time.

Rodrigues said investigators were checking to see if video surveillance captured an image of the robber.

A few blocks away on Geer Road the Citibank has been the scene of two recent robberies. In the first, reported on Feb. 10, the robber approached a victim from behind at an ATM and displayed a handgun. The robber took cash and fled the scene. In that case the robber was described as a black male adult in his 20s, standing about 6 feet tall and weighing 180 pounds.

The second robbery occurred inside the Citibank on Feb. 12 and targeted one of the bank’s tellers. The robber escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash. No weapon was seen during the robbery. In that case the robber was described as a black male adult standing 6 feet tall and wearing a multi-colored knit cap, a blue and red jacket and blue jeans.

Anyone who may have information about the Feb. 25 robbery outside Valley First is asked to contact Turlock Police Officer Alex Jimenez at 668-5550 ext. 6718. Anyone with information about the other two robberies can contact the police department at 668-5550.