Valley Bandit and Westside Gun & Bag Bandit Linked to String of 19 Bank Robberies in Unrelated Cases, Including One Robbery Yesterday

The FBI and police in Los Angeles are seeking information from the public that leads to the identities of unidentified male bank robbers wanted for two separate series of bank robberies. The suspects were given monikers of “Valley Bandit” and “Westside Gun & Bag Bandit” in order to link the robberies for law enforcement responding to banks in multiple areas. Bandit names are generated based on witness descriptions of the appearance or behavior of a suspect during the initial robberies to which they are linked.

Valley Bandit

During the 10 robberies linked to the Valley Bandit, the suspect generally threatens a weapon, typically described as a revolver. The suspect holds a gun near his waistband and has pointed the weapon at bank employees and customers, according to witnesses. Witnesses have described the Valley suspect as an Hispanic or Middle Eastern male, between 5’09” to 6’0” in height, 180 to 200 pounds, and between 25 to 35 years old. During one of the robberies, the suspect was seen getting into a white vehicle, described as a Mercedes SUV. The suspect is has also been linked to a four-door black Mercedes Benz sedan. In bank surveillance photos, the suspect can be seen wearing a baseball hat. As his moniker indicates, the Valley Bandit has been linked to the following banks in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles:

Westside Gun & Bag Bandit

During the eight robberies linked to the Westside Gun & Bag Bandit, the suspect wears sunglasses and a hat, alternating between baseball cap and a cowboy hat. The Gun & Bag suspect threatens a weapon and carries a brown paper bag in which he places the stolen cash. The Westside Gun & Bag Bandit is further described as a white male between 35 to 45 years old; between 5’9” and 6’0” tall; and between 160 to 180 pounds. U.S. Bank is offering a reward* of up to $10,000 in exchange for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the robberies linked to the Westside Gun & Bag Bandit.(*Note: bank reward criteria vary. Individual bank should be contacted for specific criteria associated with reward offer.)

The Westside Gun & Bag Bandit has been linked to the following bank robberies:

Anyone with information about the identity or whereabouts of either suspect is urged to contact the nearest FBI office or dial 911.

Additional information about bank robbers currently wanted by the FBI’s Los Angeles Division can be found at www.labankrobbers.org.