Las Colinas Files: Woman in Burqa Accused of National City Bank Robbery

A San Diego woman was behind bars in Santee Monday on suspicion of making an attempt to rob a South Bay bank last month.

Elysia Maria Roiz, 30, allegedly handed a demand note to a teller at a Wells Fargo branch office in the 1100 block of Highland Avenue in National City at about 6 p.m. on Aug. 1, according to the FBI.

After alerting a fellow employee to what was going on, the clerk retreated to a position of safety, according to the FBI. The would-be robber, who was wearing a maroon burqa, waited a few seconds, then left empty-handed, according to the FBI.

On Friday, deputy U.S. marshals and Mexican police arrested Roiz in Tijuana. Authorities took her to National City police headquarters for questioning, then booked her into Las Colinas women's jail on suspicion of attempted bank robbery. She was being held without bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Tuesday.

The FBI did not disclose what led investigators to identify Roiz as the alleged perpetrator of the failed heist.

-City News Service