FBI San Diego
Media Coordinator
(858) 320-1800 | SDPublicAffairs@fbi.gov
December 2, 2014

FBI and Local Law Enforcement Seek Public’s Assistance to Identify the Chit Chat Bandit

The FBI, San Diego Police Department and San Diego Sheriff’s Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify a bank robber who feigns to be engaged in small conversation while conducting his bank robberies. The robber dubbed the “Chit Chat Bandit” likes to appear that he is engaged in conversation related to legitimate banking business while he conducts his bank robberies.

The Chit Chat Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing two Wells Fargo Banks on Wednesday, November 26, 2014, and Friday, November 28, 2014.

The first robbery occurred on Wednesday, November 26, 2014, at approximately 3:05 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Bank branch at 7544 Girard Avenue in La Jolla, California. During this robbery, the Chit Chat Bandit allegedly handed the victim teller a demand note for cash. The note demanded the teller to provide him with all the money the teller had in their cash drawer. The Chit Chat Bandit also made a verbal demand for cash and attempted to engage in small talk with the victim teller. After receiving a sum of money, the Chit Chat Bandit exited the bank.

On Friday, November 28, 2014, at approximately 4:58 p.m., the Chit Chat Bandit allegedly robbed the Wells Fargo Bank located inside the Vons grocery store at 13439 Camino Canada in El Cajon, California. During this robbery, the Chit Chat Bandit approached the victim teller and made a verbal demand for money. While the teller was collecting cash from their cash drawer, the Chit Chat Bandit demanded money from another teller. After receiving a sum of money from both tellers, the Chit Chat Bandit exited the grocery store and made his getaway on a small green BMX-style bicycle. No injuries have been reported, and a weapon has not been displayed in any of the robberies to date.

Witnesses describe the robber as follows:

  • Sex: Male
  • Race: White
  • Age: Mid-30s
  • Weight: Approximately 160 to 170 pounds
  • Height: Approximately 5’10” tall
  • Build: Slender
  • Hair: Blonde facial hair and goatee beard under bottom lip
  • Clothing: In the first robbery, the robber wore dark sunglasses, an orange reflector vest, and a long-sleeved, dark tan shirt under the vest. In the second robbery, the robber wore a dark baseball cap, dark shirt, and light-colored pants.

Bank surveillance photographs from the Wells Fargo Bank, located at 7544 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, California, on Wednesday, November 26, 2014:

The FBI, San Diego Police Department and San Diego Sheriffs seek assistance to identify a bank robber who feigns to be engaged in small conversation while conducting his bank robberies. Suspect robbing the Wells Fargo Bank at 7544 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, California, on Wednesday, November 26, 2014. On November 28, 2014, the Chit Chat Bandit also allegedly robbed the Wells Fargo Bank located inside the Vons grocery store at 13439 Camino Canada in El Cajon, California. Suspect robbing the Wells Fargo Bank at 7544 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, California, on Wednesday, November 26, 2014. On November 28, 2014, the Chit Chat Bandit also allegedly robbed the Wells Fargo Bank located inside the Vons grocery store at 13439 Camino Canada in El Cajon, California.

Bank surveillance photographs from the Wells Fargo Bank, 13439 Camino Canada, El Cajon, California, on Friday, November 28, 2014.

Suspect robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 13439 Camino Canada, El Cajon, California, on Friday, November 28, 2014. The Chit Chat Bandit is also suspected of robbing the Wells Fargo Bank at 7544 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, California, on Wednesday, November 26, 2014. Suspect robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 13439 Camino Canada, El Cajon, California, on Friday, November 28, 2014. The Chit Chat Bandit is also suspected of robbing the Wells Fargo Bank at 7544 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, California, on Wednesday, November 26, 2014.

Suspect robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 13439 Camino Canada, El Cajon, California, on Friday, November 28, 2014. The Chit Chat Bandit is also suspected of robbing the Wells Fargo Bank at 7544 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, California, on Wednesday, November 26, 2014. Suspect robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 13439 Camino Canada, El Cajon, California, on Friday, November 28, 2014. The Chit Chat Bandit is also suspected of robbing the Wells Fargo Bank at 7544 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, California, on Wednesday, November 26, 2014. Suspect robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 13439 Camino Canada, El Cajon, California, on Friday, November 28, 2014. The Chit Chat Bandit is also suspected of robbing the Wells Fargo Bank at 7544 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, California, on Wednesday, November 26, 2014.

Anyone with information concerning the Chit Chat Bandit is asked to contact the FBI at telephone number (858) 320-1800 or San Diego Crime Stoppers at (888) 540-8477. To view photographs of other wanted San Diego bank robbers, please visit https://bankrobbers.fbi.gov.