"Geezer Bandit" is the name given by the FBI to a man who committed a series of bank robberies 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 last known robbery occurred on Friday, December 2, 2011.
Investigation
The FBI's field offices in California worked 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] The reward was 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 and 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 contact with the Geezer Bandit stated on America's Most Wantedthat 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 disguised and is using a silicone mask.[8][9] 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.[10] Interest in realistic theatrical disguise also increased after a young East Asian man was able to board a plane from Hong Kong to Canada wearing the mask of an elderly white male.[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.
Bank of America, on December 2, 2011 in San Luis Obispo, CA
Pop culture
America's Most Wanted
In January 2011, Geezer Bandit was profiled on America's Most Wanted and San Diego's Most Wanted.[17]
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 making "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:
