FBI warns 'Geezer Bandit' is armed, dangerous
BY STEVE E. SWENSON, Californian staff writer sswenson@bakersfield.com
He may be old and have a funny nickname, but the FBI warns the man it has dubbed the Geezer Bandit should be considered armed and dangerous.
The suspect struck for the twelfth time Friday at the Bank of America at 4480 Coffee Road in Bakersfield after pulling off 10 earlier robberies in San Diego County and one in Riverside County, according to FBI special agent Darrell Foxworth in San Diego.
Related Info
List of bank robberies the FBI connects to the 'Geezer Bandit'
Aug. 28, 2009, US Bank, Santee
Sept. 12, 2009, San Diego National Bank, La Jolla
Oct. 9, 2009, US Bank, San Diego
Oct. 26, 2009, Bank of America, Rancho Santa Fe
Nov. 16, 2009, Bank of America, La Jolla
Jan. 27, 2010, San Diego National Bank, San Diego
April 20, 2010, California Bank & Trust, Vista
April 30, 2010, US Bank, Vista
May 11, 2010, Bank Of America, Santee
June 7, 2010, US Bank, Poway
June 24, 2010, Bank of America, Temecula
Nov. 12, 2010, Bank of America, Bakersfield
Source: FBI
One teller went on a San Diego crime show and described how traumatized she was when a gun was pointed at her, Foxworth said.
The robberies attributed to the suspect began Aug. 28, 2009 in Santee and continued at a pace of up to one or two a month until June 24 this year when he went outside San Diego County to Temecula in Riverside County, Foxworth said.
On Monday, after FBI agents in San Diego and Bakersfield conferred, it was determined the same suspect robbed the Bakersfield bank, Foxworth said.
The suspect is known for his dapper dress and carrying a revolver in a leather case that he has pulled out, pointed at tellers and demanded that they give him cash or he promised to use it, the agent said. The suspect has also used demand notes.
Witnesses have described him as wearing a Halloween-like old man mask. Foxworth said the FBI is considering that he might be an elderly man or someone wearing a mask to look like an elderly man.
In the Bakersfield heist at 6 p.m. Friday, the suspect wore a mask, a white fedora-style hat, black sports coat, gray slacks and back dress shoes.
Bakersfield Police Sgt. Mary DeGeare said the robber waited until the last customer left and fumbled a bit with his gloves. When the teller complied with his demands, another bank employee -- who was unaware of the robbery -- unlocked the door to let the robber out, DeGeare said.
The FBI is describing him as a white male, about 60 to 70 years old, 6 feet tall and approximately 190 pounds.
A $20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to his arrest and conviction. Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 858-565-1255.
It's unknown whether the suspect might try another robbery in Bakersfield, Foxworth said, but the suspect robbed two bank branches each in Santee, La Jolla, San Diego and Vista.
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