The FBI and robbery detectives are searching for a suspected bank bandit wanted in a series of bank robberies in which he used the threat of being armed with a bomb.
According to officials, the so-called “I Have a Bomb Bandit” is believed to have robbed three different banks in San Diego last week.
On May 29, the suspect allegedly hit two banks within 20 minutes: a California Coast Credit Union located at 4265 Genesee Ave. at around 9:25 a.m., and a Mission Federal Credit Union located at 269 West Washington St. at around 9:46 a.m.
Investigators say he struck again on May 30 just before 5 p.m. at a Mission Federal Credit Union located at 4205 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
In all three robberies, the suspect’s tactic was the same. He used a demand note asking for money and used the threat of a bomb, investigators said. In the May 30 robbery, the man was seen getting into the passenger side of a getaway vehicle, possibly a red, two-door Toyota or Honda sedan.
No bomb was ever seen and no one was injured in the bank robberies.
Investigators say the man was captured on surveillance tape (see photos above). He’s described as a possibly Hispanic, Asian or Indian man between 30 and 40 years old. He’s between 5-foot-4 and 5-foot-9 with a thick build and black hair worn in a ponytail.
Anyone with information on the identity and whereabouts of the “I Have a Bomb Bandit” is urged to contact the SDPD Robbery Unit at (619) 531-2299 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
Photo Credit: SDPD