‘Bandit’ brandishes Post-it note
Federal authorities have linked 17 bank robberies — three of which occurred in Santa Monica — to a suspect they have dubbed the “Big Bills Bandit.”
The FBI is looking for a black man, between 5’7” and 5’10” tall and 35 to 40 years old. He’s been dubbed the “Big Bills Bandit” because he demands nothing smaller than $20 bills.
The suspect, who’s considered armed and dangerous, is believed to have robbed US Bank on Santa Monica Boulevard in July, First Federal Bank on Main Street in September and the Bank of the West on Colorado Avenue in October.
His most recent bank robbery was in Monrovia on Nov. 23 at Granite State Bank, where he actually grabbed the money out of the teller’s hand and then threatened to shoot someone, said FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller.
“Through the pictures and descriptions we have, we believe he is the same individual (in all of the robberies),” Eimiller said.
He is very well dressed, usually threatens he has a gun and uses profanity. He wears what’s described as “Ray-Ban” sunglasses and carries a cell phone. He also has been described as having a dark complexion and has a goatee, Eimiller said.
In all of the robberies, the “Big Bills Bandit” uses a demand note. In the case of the First Federal robbery which occurred at 1:15 p.m. on Sept. 17, a Post-it type note was given to the bank teller, which said, “give me all of your $20s, $50s and $100s.” During that robbery, he was wearing clear, wrap-around glasses, and a light blue baseball hat, according to Eimiller.
While the bandit didn’t threaten to produce a gun in September, he did at Bank of the West at 5:45 p.m. on Oct. 1. His note to the teller read, “put the money in the bag. I’m watching you. $50s and $100s. I’m not f--cking around. I have a gun my bag.”
The “Big Bills Bandit” is believed to have robbed banks in the following cities: Aug. 25, 1999 — Glendale Nov. 29, 2002 — North Hills Jan. 18, 2003 — Woodland Hills June 4, 2002 — Los Angeles July 13, 2004 — Santa Monica July 16, 2004 — Beverly Hills Aug. 6, 2004 — Encino Aug. 27, 2004 — Los Angeles Sept. 2, 2004 — Pasadena Sept. 10, 2004 — Los Angeles Sept. 17, 2004 — Santa Monica Oct. 1, 2004 — Santa Monica Oct. 7, 2004 — Los Angeles Oct. 12, 2004 — Century City Nov. 5, 2004 — Century City Nov. 15, 2004 — Sherman Oaks Nov. 23, 2004 — Monrovia Anyone with information is asked to contact: Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent Steve May at (310) 477-6565, Beverly Hills Police Department Detective Marcelo Rodriguez at (310) 285-2170, Los Angeles Police Department Robbery/Homicide at (213) 485-0780, Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8427
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 4, 2004. Read the original PDF.