Geezer Bandit

"Geezer Bandit"
Geezer Bandit Wanted Poster
Nationality	American
Occupation	Bank Robber
Known for	Bank robbery
Height	5'10" - 6'0"
Weight	190–200 lb (86–91 kg)
Criminal status	At large
Reward amount	$20,000
Capture status	Fugitive
Wanted by	FBI
Wanted since	August 2009

"Geezer Bandit" is the name given by the FBI to a man who was robbing banks in Southern California.^[1] The Geezer Bandit is accused of robbing at least sixteen banks so far, many in the San Diego, California area. His most recent robbery occurred on Friday, December 2, 2011.

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 Wanted in October 2010.^[2] On February 5, 2011, John Walsh highlighted the Geezer bandit on America's Most wanted.^[3] Currently, the reward has been up to $20,000 to provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of the Geezer Bandit.^[4]

Description

The Geezer Bandit is suspected to be a white male between the ages of 60–70 years old who is between 5'10" and 6'0" and between 190 to 200 lb with an average build, and judging from footage and eyewitness accounts, he is left-handed.^[5]

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 case and demands money from the teller by handing the teller a note.^[6] A teller who was one of the 13 people to have direct contract with the Geezer bandit stated on America's Most Wanted that she was given a note that read, "Give me $50,000 or I will murder you."^[7]

Theories

The man appears to be in his mid- to late seventies; however, some members of law enforcement have stated their beliefs 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.^[8] The string of robberies started in August 2009 in San Diego, California.

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 like a black male.^[9] Interest in realistic theatrical disguise also increased after a young Asian man was able to board a plane from Hong Kong to Canada wearing the mask of an elderly white male.^[10][11]

John Walsh, host of America's Most Wanted, believes the Geezer Bandit is actually a young person in disguise due to surveillance footage of his latest robbery, which showed him running abnormally fast for an elderly person after a dye pack exploded in the money bag he had.

Robberies committed

1. US Bank, On August 28, 2009 in Santee, California ^[5][12]
2. San Diego National Bank, On September 12, 2009 in La Jolla, CA ^[5][12]
3. US Bank, On October 9, 2009 in San Diego, CA ^[5][12]
4. Bank of America, On October 26, 2009 in Rancho Santa Fe, CA ^[5][12]
5. Bank of America, On November 16, 2009 in La Jolla, CA ^[5][12]
6. San Diego National Bank, On January 27, 2010 in San Diego, CA ^[5][12]
7. California Bank & Trust, On April 20, 2010 in Vista, California ^[5][12]
8. US Bank, On April 30, 2010, in Vista, California ^[5][12]
9. Bank of America, On May 11, 2010 in Santee, California, CA ^[5][12]
10. US Bank, On June 7, 2010 in Poway, CA ^[5][6]
11. Bank of America, on June 25, 2010 in Temecula, CA ^[5][13]
12. Bank of America, on November 12, 2010, in Bakersfield, CA ^[5][6]
13. Bank of America, on January 28, 2011 in Goleta, California^[14]
14. Heritage Oaks Bank on May 27, 2011 in Morro Bay, CA^[15]
15. Wells Fargo, on September 30, 2011 in La Jolla, CA ^[16]
16. Bank of America, on December 2, 2011 in San Luis Obispo, CA ^[17]

Pop culture

Copycat

An apparent copycat of the Geezer Bandit made an appearance in an attempt to replicate the robbery tactic. In an attempt to pull off a robbery, the fake Geezer Bandit was not careful in his getaway, and ended up in police custody. The police do not believe he is the real Geezer Bandit.^[18]

Fanbase

The Geezer Bandit has a following that has started several Facebook pages showing support for him and his crime spree.^[19] 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 imprinted with a picture of the felon from surveillance images of his robberies.^[20]

On the February 5, 2011, episode of America's Most Wanted, one fan-made shirt read:

GEEZER BANDIT

is my name

GETTIN' AWAY

is my game^[7]

References