FBI San Diego
Media Coordinator
(858) 320-1800 | SDPublicAffairs@fbi.gov
September 16, 2014

Reward of Up to $20,000 Offered in Serial Bank Robber Investigation

A reward of up to $20,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the serial bank robber known as the El Chapparito Bandit.

Since November 2013, banks in the San Diego region have been victimized by a serial bank robber known as the El Chapparito Bandit. The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks starting in November 2013, with the latest robbery occurring on Saturday, September 13, 2014.

El Chapparito Bandit bank robberies are characterized as modified takeover-style robberies. The robber usually enters the bank yelling instructions for everyone to get their hands up or get down on the floor. He then proceeds to rob one or more tellers. He usually simulates that he is armed with a weapon using hand gestures.

During his latest robbery, on Saturday, September 13, 2014, the El Chapparito Bandit robbed the Wells Fargo Bank branch located at 10707 Camino Ruiz in San Diego, California, at approximately 2:30 p.m.

At the time of the robbery, he entered the bank yelling “hands up everyone” and simulated a weapon under his shirt with his thumb and forefinger as he continued to yell at bank employees and customers. The robber went to one teller who was in the middle of helping a bank customer. The robber then went to the teller next to the first teller and demanded money. After receiving a sum of money from the second teller, the robber went back to the first teller and collected an additional sum of money. The robber placed the money into a bag he brought with him to the bank. After receiving money from both tellers, the robber walked out of the bank. No weapon was observed and no injuries reported. The bank surveillance photographs from the August 30, 2014 robberies show part of the robber’s face.

The following chart is a list of the bank robberies attributed to the El Chapparito Bandit:

Date Bank Address
November 19, 2013 Chase Bank 1103 East Plaza Blvd., National City, California
December 13, 2013 California Coast Credit Union 1060 University Avenue, San Diego, California
December 19, 2013 Chase Bank 6116 Mission Gorge Road, San Diego, California
January 3, 2014 Chase Bank 4500 Bonita Road, Bonita, California
January 10, 2014 Chase Bank 4111 Governor Drive, San Diego, California
January 15, 2014 Chase Bank 5303 Ruffin Road, San Diego, California
January 23, 2014 Wells Fargo Bank 1220 Cleveland Avenue, San Diego, California
January 29, 2014 Bank of America 5821 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, California
February 3, 2014 Chase Bank 365 West Washington, San Diego, California
July 31, 2014 Wells Fargo Bank 970 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista, California
August 13, 2014 California Coast Credit Union 8220 Mira Mesa Blvd. San Diego, California
August 21, 2014 Wells Fargo Bank 3445 Del Mar Heights, San Diego, California
August 30, 2014 US Bank 9400 Mira Mesa Blvd., San Diego, CA.
August 30, 2014 North Island Credit Union 9420 Mira Mesa Blvd., San Diego, California
September 13, 2014 Wells Fargo Bank 10707 Camino Ruiz, San Diego, California

Witnesses describe the robber as follows:

  • Sex: Male
  • Race: Asian or Hispanic
  • Age: Mid-20s
  • Height: Approximately 5’3” to 5’7” tall
  • Hair: Dark
  • Build: Skinny
  • Clothing: Blue baseball cap, blue bandana-style mask, sunglasses, yellow gloves, blue jeans, and dark shoes.

Bank surveillance photographs from the North Island Credit Union, 9420 Mira Mesa Blvd., San Diego, California, and U.S. Bank, 9400 Mira Mesa Blvd., San Diego, California, on August 30, 2014:

A reward of up to $20,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the serial bank robber known as the El Chapparito Bandit. The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the North Island Credit Union, 9420 Mira Mesa Blvd., San Diego, California on August 30, 2014.

The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the U.S. Bank, 9400 Mira Mesa Blvd., San Diego, California, on August 30, 2014. The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the U.S. Bank, 9400 Mira Mesa Blvd., San Diego, California, on August 30, 2014. The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the U.S. Bank, 9400 Mira Mesa Blvd., San Diego, California, on August 30, 2014.

Bank surveillance photographs from Wells Fargo Bank, 10707 Camino Ruiz, San Diego, California, on Saturday, September 13, 2014:

The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 10707 Camino Ruiz, San Diego, California, on Saturday, September 13, 2014. The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 10707 Camino Ruiz, San Diego, California, on Saturday, September 13, 2014.

The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 10707 Camino Ruiz, San Diego, California, on Saturday, September 13, 2014. The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 10707 Camino Ruiz, San Diego, California, on Saturday, September 13, 2014. The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 10707 Camino Ruiz, San Diego, California, on Saturday, September 13, 2014.

Bank surveillance photographs from Chase Bank, 4500 Bonita Road, Bonita, California, on January 3, 2014:

The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the Chase Bank, 4500 Bonita Road, Bonita, California, on January 3, 2014. The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the Chase Bank, 4500 Bonita Road, Bonita, California, on January 3, 2014. The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the Chase Bank, 4500 Bonita Road, Bonita, California, on January 3, 2014.

Bank surveillance photographs from the Wells Fargo Bank, 1220 Cleveland Avenue, San Diego, California, on January 23, 2014:

The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 1220 Cleveland Avenue, San Diego, California, on January 23, 2014. The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 1220 Cleveland Avenue, San Diego, California, on January 23, 2014.

Bank surveillance photographs from the Chase Bank, 5303 Ruffin Road, San Diego, California, on January 15, 2014:

The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the Chase Bank, 5303 Ruffin Road, San Diego, California, on January 15, 2014. The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the Chase Bank, 5303 Ruffin Road, San Diego, California, on January 15, 2014. The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the Chase Bank, 5303 Ruffin Road, San Diego, California, on January 15, 2014.

Bank surveillance photographs from the Wells Fargo Bank, 970 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista, California, on July 31, 2014:

The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 970 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista, California, on July 31, 2014. The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 970 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista, California, on July 31, 2014. The El Chapparito Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing 15 banks from November 2013 to September 13, 2014. Here, he is shown robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 970 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista, California, on July 31, 2014.

Anyone with information concerning the El Chapparito Bandit is asked to contact the FBI at telephone number (858) 320-1800 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. You may remain anonymous by calling the FBI or Crime Stoppers. The $20,000 reward is separate from any reward offered by San Diego Crime Stoppers. The reward amount is up to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction.