By Daily Press staff
A man known to law enforcement as the “Armed Old Man Bandit” — believed to be responsible for robbing at least 17 banks — was taken into custody late Wednesday.
The FBI apprehended Edmund Sykes, 54, of Encino, at a casino in the City of Commerce, announced J. Stephen Tidwell, assistant director in charge of the FBI in Los Angeles.
Sykes had been sought by law enforcement since he first robbed a First Federal Bank in Encino in March of 2004. Since that time, Sykes is thought to have been involved in numerous bank robberies throughout the San Fernando Valley and Pacific Palisades.
During the robbery spree, the Armed Old Man Bandit would alter his disguise and method of operation. In one robbery that took place in Pacific Palisades on March 17, the bandit wore a hard hat and warned tellers he had a bomb, a tactic he allegedly used on five separate occasions. The LAPD Bomb Squad was forced to evacuate the bank after the robbery, but found no explosive device, authorities said. In another robbery, the Armed Old Man Bandit wore bandages on his face and appeared as though he had been involved in a serious accident. In many of the robberies linked to Sykes, customers and tellers were confronted by the bandit, who made death threats while pointing his weapon at them.
Recent developments in the case positively identified Sykes as the Armed Old Man Bandit. Agents obtained a federal arrest warrant for Sykes on Nov. 29 and conducted a search of Sykes’ Encino residence that evening, which he had since vacated. Investigators learned that Sykes was known to frequent local casinos and consulted with security personnel at Southern California gaming clubs.
On Wednesday, FBI Agents, while conferring with security guards at the Commerce Casino, noticed a man playing poker who strongly resembled Sykes. Agents and security personnel lured Sykes into a private area of the casino and took him into custody.
Sykes was scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, when he was to be charged in a criminal complaint for armed bank robbery.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 9, 2005. Read the original PDF.