Transient Arrested in Morning Bank Heist

Police arrested an out-of-state transient Monday, minutes after he allegedly robbed the Chase bank at 201 Manhattan Beach Blvd.

Manhattan Beach Police Officer Stephanie Martin said that Robert Frank Ackerman, a 45-year-old from Hope, AR, entered the bank just before 11 a.m. and demanded money from a teller. The teller placed an unspecified amount of cash from the drawer in a bag and the suspect walked out of the bank with it, Martin said. No weapon was used in the incident, she added.

Officers responded to a call and saw Ackerman walking near the intersection of Highland Avenue and 15th Street shortly after the robbery, Martin said. Officers detained Ackerman based on a description from the bank teller and recovered what appeared to be the stolen money, she said.

Ackerman is being held on $100,000 bail.

Manhattan Beach Police detectives expect to file the case with the District Attorney's Office on Thursday.