FBI Task Force Apprehends Two Bank Robbery Suspects

The FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force has nabbed two separate bank robbery suspects responsible for eight of this year’s Denver metro area bank robberies.

Over the weekend, a call was dispatched to Denver PD stating that a party was acting suspicious near the bus stop at Colfax Ave. and Colorado Blvd. The party was contacted by Denver PD and was identified as Paul Walker, white male, of Denver, Colorado. Walker had an outstanding warrant for trespassing and was arrested. Walker mentioned to the arresting officer that he had committed a bank robbery and wanted to speak to an investigator. An FBI Safe Street’s Task Force investigator visited Walker in the Denver City Jail and he agreed to be interviewed. The interview was successful in that Paul Walker confessed to committing five bank robberies in the Denver metro area. Paul Walker is known as the “Crooked Lid Bandit,” responsible for the following Denver bank robberies:

• 02/27/2009 - US Bank - 950 17th Street, Denver, Colorado
• 03/17/2009 - US Bank - 950 17th Street, Denver, Colorado
• 03/17/2009 - Chase Bank - 1125 17th Street, Denver, Colorado
• 12/18/2009 - Chase Bank - 1125 17th Street, Denver, Colorado
• 12/23/2009 - Chase Bank - 1125 17th Street, Denver, Colorado

Multiple anonymous tips received by Crime Stoppers provided information on a possible suspect later identified as John Kirby, white male, of Westminster, Colorado. While these leads were being investigated, Kirby committed a bank robbery on 12/28/2009. The FBI Safe Streets Task Force identified Kirby, where he lived, and the vehicle he used in the robberies. Kirby was apprehended several hours after the last robbery and confessed to the three bank robberies listed below:

• 12/14/2009 - Bank of the West – 9150 N Sheridan Blvd., Westminster, Colorado
• 12/16/2009 – Bank of the West – 5805 Carr Street, Arvada, Colorado
• 12/28/2009 – Bank of the West – 5805 Carr Street, Arvada, Colorado

Bank robbery is punishable by a 20-year prison term for each offense and increases if a dangerous weapon is used in the commission of the crime.

The FBI continues to provide financial institutions with the best practices for security to make them less vulnerable to robberies.

If anyone has any information on any bank robbery, please call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force at 303-629-7171; or, you can remain anonymous and earn up to two thousand dollars ($2,000) by calling CRIMESTOPPERS at 720-913-STOP (7867).