'River Rat' Hits Seven Bank Robberies
Reward Increases to $10,000

The “River Rat” bank robber is making good on his name—investigators believe that he crossed the Columbia River into Washington today to rob his seventh bank. The same man is believed to be responsible for as many as 10 robberies at check cashing/payday loan advance businesses as well.

At about 12:30 p.m. today, he walked into the Chase Bank branch located at 13620 NE 84th Street in Vancouver, showed a black revolver and demanded cash.

This same man is suspected in as many as six other bank robberies in Oregon and Washington, including one in Portland last week. In each case, the man has entered the bank or store, displayed a black handgun and demanded cash. In several cases, he actually leaped onto or over the teller counter to get to the cash.

The Oregon Financial Institutions Security Task Force (FIST) has increased the reward it is offering to up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of this armed and dangerous serial robber. In addition, the FBI has added “River Rat” to the crime alert section of its webpage.

The other bank robberies include:

• August 7, 2009—Columbia State Bank, 10735 NE Halsey, Portland
• August 11, 2009—Key Bank, 13215 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver
• August 19, 2009—Riverview Community Bank, 10401 NE Halsey, Portland
• August 24, 2009—Columbia State Bank, 618 S. Meridian, Puyallup, Washington
• August 26, 2009—Riverview Community Bank, 10401 NE Halsey, Portland
• September 18, 2009—Albina Community Bank, 5636 NE Sandy Blvd.

The check cashing or payday advance loan stores that were robbed are in the Vancouver and Puyallup, Washington, areas.

Witnesses describe the man as:

• Race: White
• Age: 20’s—mid 30’s
• Height: 5’7”
• Weight: 165 pounds
• Build: Medium
• Clothing: Sometimes wears a black athletic-style jacket with a white stripe or a gray zip-up sweatshirt; a baseball cap (sometimes camouflage), dark sunglasses; latex gloves
• Other: Speaks with an accent

Investigators gave this suspect the nickname “River Rat” because he is robbing banks on both sides of the Columbia River. No one has been injured in any of these robberies, but this man should be considered armed and dangerous. No one should approach him. If in immediate danger, call 911. Otherwise, anyone who has a tip is asked to call the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or Det. Scott Smith at the Vancouver Police Department at (360) 487-7416.

FIST is a cooperative effort made up of representatives from banks, savings and loans, and credit unions, as well as representatives from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. The purpose of FIST is to help reduce crimes.