Three arrested in 4 Bank of the West heists

MANTECA — Police arrested three people on charges of armed robbery in connection with four bank robberies between Aug. 4 and Sept. 22.

After arresting a suspect Friday in an armed robbery in Stockton, detectives determined that the suspect had information about Manteca's recent rash of robberies, investigators said. Stockton police and Manteca detectives began to collaborate on an investigation that led to the three arrests.

The following people — all Stockton residents — were arrested on suspicion of armed robbery:

Victor Manuel Alanis, 18, was arrested Tuesday in connection with the robbery of Bank of the West on West Yosemite Avenue Aug. 4, Aug. 11 and Sept. 22. He was booked at San Joaquin County Jail. Bail was set at $200,000. He is scheduled for arraignment in court at 1:30 p.m. today.

Sergio Ramirez, 21, was arrested in connection with the robbery of Bank of the West on Aug. 4 and Aug. 11, and the robbery of Washington Mutual Bank on Spreckels Road on Aug. 9. He was booked at San Joaquin County Jail on Saturday. Bail was set at $100,000. His arraignment is Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.

Raquel Alaine Solorio, 21, is accused of driving a vehicle in the robbery on Aug. 9. She was booked into San Joaquin County Jail. Bail was set at $50,000. Her arraignment is scheduled Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.

Each arrest took place without incident, according to police spokesman Rex Osborn.

A fourth person, 21-year-old Israel Flores of Stockton, is considered to be a fugitive and is wanted in connection with bank robberies in Manteca on Aug. 4 and Sept. 22. Police said Flores is a Latino male 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds.

Modesto Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to his arrest. Call 823-4636.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.