Geezer bandit
Encyclopedia
"Geezer Bandit" is the name given to a man by the FBI who is robbing banks in Southern California. This man is accused of robbing over a dozen banks so far.
in October of 2010. On February 5, 2011 John Walsh
highlighted the Geezer bandit on America's Most wanted. Currently the reward has been up to $20,000 to provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person known as the Geezer bandit.
With the recent arrest of Boston mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger, there has been speculation that he could be the geezer bandit, due to the fact that during Bulger's 16 years on the lam he was hiding in plain sight in Santa Monica, California. Bulger, the former leader of the notorious Winter Hill gang of Sommerville, Massachusetts, was found to have some $800,000 stashed in the walls of his apartment building. Bulger was apprehended on June 22, 2011, after an FBI television campaign to find his longtime partner Catherine Greig.
The FBI has started to question makers of special effects masks to get insight into the Geezer Bandit robberies. This comes in part after a white male in Ohio pleaded guilty to robbing banks in a mask that made him look black. But law enforcement interest in realistic theatrical disguise also increased after a young Asian man was able to board a plane from Hong Kong to Canada wearing a mask of an elderly white male.
pages showing support for him and his crime spree. Several news media outlets have reported that many people are trying to capitalize on the fan draw of the Geezer bandit by make "Geezer bandit" t-shirts which have printed picture from surveillance images of his robberies.
On the February 5, 2011 episode of America's Most Wanted, a fan-made shirt that says
was shown.
Investigation
The FBI’s field offices in California are working with local law enforcement to solve the serial robberies in Southern California. The Geezer Bandit, was listed on America's Most WantedAmerica's Most Wanted
America's Most Wanted is an American television program produced by 20th Television, and was the longest-running program of any kind in the history of the Fox Television Network until it was announced on May 16, 2011 that the series was canceled after twenty-three years, with the final episode...
in October of 2010. On February 5, 2011 John Walsh
John Walsh
John Edward Walsh is an American television personality, criminal investigator, human and victim rights advocate and formerly the host, as well as creator, of America's Most Wanted...
highlighted the Geezer bandit on America's Most wanted. Currently the reward has been up to $20,000 to provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person known as the Geezer bandit.
Description
The Geezer Bandit is suspected to be a white male between the age of 60-70 years old who is between 5'10" and 6'0" and between 190 to 200 lb with an average build.Modus operandi
The Geezer bandit comes into the bank like a normal customer, approaches the teller with a leather case, and then draws a revolver from the leather case and demands money from the teller by handing the teller a note. A teller who was one of the 13 people to have direct contract with the Geezer bandit stated on Americas most wanted that she was given a note which read. "Give me $50,000 or I will murder you."Theories
The man appears to be in his mid- to late seventies; however some members of law enforcement, have stated that he may not be an elderly man. One theory is that the man is a master of disguise, and is using a movie special effects mask. The string of robberies started in August 2009 in San Diego, California.With the recent arrest of Boston mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger, there has been speculation that he could be the geezer bandit, due to the fact that during Bulger's 16 years on the lam he was hiding in plain sight in Santa Monica, California. Bulger, the former leader of the notorious Winter Hill gang of Sommerville, Massachusetts, was found to have some $800,000 stashed in the walls of his apartment building. Bulger was apprehended on June 22, 2011, after an FBI television campaign to find his longtime partner Catherine Greig.
The FBI has started to question makers of special effects masks to get insight into the Geezer Bandit robberies. This comes in part after a white male in Ohio pleaded guilty to robbing banks in a mask that made him look black. But law enforcement interest in realistic theatrical disguise also increased after a young Asian man was able to board a plane from Hong Kong to Canada wearing a mask of an elderly white male.
Robberies committed
- US Bank, On August 28, 2009 in SanteeSanteeSantee may refer to:Places:* Santee, California* Santee, Nebraska* Santee, South Carolina* Santee River in South Carolina* Santee Education ComplexPlumbing:...
, CA - San Diego National Bank, On September 12, 2009 in La Jolla, CA
- US Bank, On October 9, 2009 in San Diego, CA
- Bank of AmericaBank of AmericaBank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
, On October 26, 2009 in Rancho Santa Fe, CA - Bank of America, On November 16, 2009 in La Jolla, CA
- San Diego National Bank, On January 27, 2010 in San Diego, CA
- California Bank & Trust, On April 20, 2010 in VistaVistaVista usually refers to a distant view.Vista may also refer to:-Software:*Windows Vista, the line of Microsoft Windows client operating systems released in 2006 and 2007...
, CA - US Bank, On April 30, 2010, in VistaVistaVista usually refers to a distant view.Vista may also refer to:-Software:*Windows Vista, the line of Microsoft Windows client operating systems released in 2006 and 2007...
, CA - Bank of America, On May 11, 2010 in SanteeSanteeSantee may refer to:Places:* Santee, California* Santee, Nebraska* Santee, South Carolina* Santee River in South Carolina* Santee Education ComplexPlumbing:...
, CA - US Bank, On June 7, 2010 in Poway, CA
- Bank of America, on June 25, 2010 in Temecula, CA
- Bank of America, on November 12, 2010, in Bakersfield, CA
- Bank of America, on January 28, 2011 in GoletaGoletaGoleta may refer to:* Goleta, California* Goleta , a spider genus...
, CA - Heritage Oaks Bank on May 27, 2011 in Morro Bay, CA
- Wells FargoWells FargoWells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...
, on September 30, 2011 in La Jolla, CA
Copycat
Even an apparent copycat of the Geezer Bandit has made an appearance. In an attempt to pull off a robbery the fake Geezer Bandit was not careful in his getaway, and ended up arrested by the police. The police said that they do not believe he is the real Geezer Bandit.Fans
The Geezer Bandit has following of people that have started several FacebookFacebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
pages showing support for him and his crime spree. Several news media outlets have reported that many people are trying to capitalize on the fan draw of the Geezer bandit by make "Geezer bandit" t-shirts which have printed picture from surveillance images of his robberies.
On the February 5, 2011 episode of America's Most Wanted, a fan-made shirt that says
- GEEZER BANDIT
- is my name
- GETTIN' AWAY
- is my game
was shown.