FBI and San Diego Police Department Seek Public’s Assistance to Identify El Chaparrito Bandit
| FBI San Diego January 31, 2014 |
The FBI and San Diego Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the unknown male believed to be responsible for robbing eight local banks. The robber has been dubbed “El Chaparrito Bandit,” meaning the short bandit.
El Chaparrito Bandit bank robbery series started in November 2013, with the latest robbery on Wednesday, January 29, 2014. El Chaparrito Bandit robberies usually involve the robber entering the bank and yelling he is there to rob the bank. Demands for money have been made in both English and Spanish. In the latest robbery on Wednesday, January 29, 2014, El Chaparrito Bandit ran into the bank and up to the teller station yelling, “Give me the money.” The robber had one hand raised simulating a weapon and the other hand in his jacket, simulating a weapon.
El Chaparrito Bandit is believed to be responsible for the following bank robberies:
| Date | Day | Bank |
| November 19, 2013 | Tuesday | Chase Bank, 1130 East Plaza Boulevard, National City, California |
| December 13, 2013 | Friday | California Coast Credit Union, 1060 University Avenue #A101, San Diego, California |
| December 19, 2013 | Chase Bank, 6116 Mission Gorge Road, San Diego, California | |
| January 3, 2014 | Friday | Chase bank, 4500 Bonita Road, Chula Vista, California |
| January 10, 2014 | Friday | Chase Bank, 4111 Governor Drive, San Diego, California |
| January 15, 2014 | Wednesday | Chase Bank, 5303 Ruffin Road, San Diego, California, |
| January 23, 2014 | Thursday | Wells Fargo Bank, 1220 Cleveland Avenue, San Diego, California |
| January 29, 2014 | Wednesday | Bank Of America, 5851 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, California |
Witnesses describe El Chaparrito Bandit as follows:
- Sex: Male
- Age: 20 to 30 years old
- Race: Hispanic or white
- Height: Approximately 5’3” to 5’9” tall
- Build: Medium
- Weight: Approximately 140 to 180 lbs.
Bank surveillance photographs from the Chase Bank, 1130 East Plaza Boulevard, National City, California, on Tuesday, November 19, 2013:
Bank surveillance photographs from the Chase Bank, 4500 Bonita Road, Chula Vista, on Friday, January 3, 2014:
Bank surveillance photographs from the Chase Bank, 5303 Ruffin Road, San Diego, California, on Wednesday, January 15, 2014:
Bank surveillance photograph from Bank of America, 5851 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, California, on Wednesday, January 29, 2014:
Anyone with information concerning El Chaparrito Bandit is asked to contact the FBI at telephone number (858) 320-1800 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 540-8477.