Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco – A bank customer was robbed of 100,000 pesos in cash Monday afternoon outside the Banamex branch at Plaza Caracol in Puerto Vallarta. The victim, who had stepped out of his vehicle to deposit funds, was approached by a lone gunman who threatened him with a firearm and seized the money before fleeing on a motorcycle. The attack has prompted concern among local residents and banking customers about rising street crime in the Versalles neighborhood.
Bank Customer Robbed at Plaza Caracol
The bank customer robbed at Plaza Caracol unfolded at around 3:30 PM on August 4. According to the victim’s account, he parked his car and walked toward the Banamex entrance when the assailant stepped from behind a nearby pillar. The man brandished a handgun and ordered the customer to hand over his waist bag, which contained the money intended for deposit. Once he had the cash, the suspect mounted a waiting motorcycle and sped away down Avenida Francisco Villa.
Witnesses described the thief as a light-skinned man of robust build, dressed in a brown vest and dark pants. He carried a black helmet but did not wear a mask. After the victim complied, the suspect jumped onto a black motorcycle with no visible license plate. He then turned east on Avenida Francisco Villa, disappearing from view within seconds. Despite bystanders’ efforts to pursue him on foot, the gunman’s head start made any chase futile.
Puerto Vallarta municipal police arrived at the scene within minutes of the 9-1-1 call. Officers cordoned off the area around Plaza Caracol and canvassed nearby streets for surveillance footage. So far, no arrests have been reported. Investigators are reviewing security cameras from the shopping center and adjacent businesses to trace the suspect’s route. The case has been turned over to the state attorney general’s office for further forensic work.
Residents in Versalles have noticed a rise in street-level crimes near banking centers. Over the past two months, several coffee shop patrons and pedestrians have reported similar robberies in broad daylight. Many locals now avoid walking alone near plazas after 3 PM. Business owners fear that continued attacks could deter customers and harm the neighborhood’s reputation.
