The FBI and Law Enforcement Officials in Ventura and Santa Barbara are Seeking the Public’s Assistance in Identifying the “Bad Elf Bandit” and the “Groomed Beard Bandit”

Bank surveillance photographs of two separate bank robbery suspects in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties are being released in an attempt to gain the public’s help with information leading to their identities.

In one case, the FBI and detectives with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department are invesigating a robbery that occurred Monday, December 20, at a Bank of the West in Thousand Oaks, California. During the robbery, an unidentified black male approached a victim teller and passed a note demanding cash. The bandit is further described as between 160-170 lbs., approximately 5’8” tall, and as being in his mid-20s. As can be seen in the bank surveillance photos being released, the bandit wore glasses, a scarf, hooded sweatshirt, and a baseball cap. The bandit in this robbery has been named the “Bad Elf Bandit” because he was wearing a red sweatshirt with a scarf during the Christmas season.

In a separate case, the FBI and detectives with the Ventura Police Department and the Santa Barbara Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance by asking for information leading to the identity of an unknown male suspect believed to be responsible for three bank robberies since mid-November 2010.

This bandit, known to law enforcement as the “Groomed Beard Bandit” based on witness descriptions of his facial hair, is further described as a white male between the ages of 38-40; between 5’8” and 5’10” in height; and between 160-170 lbs. The suspect has been described as having dark hair and light eyes, possibly green. During the robberies linked to the Groomed Beard Bandit, the suspect orally demands cash when he approaches the victim teller. In the most recent robbery, the suspect displayed a black handgun that was tucked in his waistband and was seen leaving the bank in an older model Buick, gold or brown in color. In the Santa Barbara robbery, a gun was brandished during the robbery.

The Groomed Beard Bandit has been linked to the following three bank robberies in 2010:

11/15/2010 - Chase Bank, Ventura, CA
12/04/2010 - Bank of America, Ventura, CA
12/10/2010 - Rabobank, Santa Barbara, CA

Anyone with information as to the identity or whereabouts of the Bad Elf Bandit or Groomed Beard Bandit is urged to contact the FBI or dial 911. In Los Angeles, the FBI can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 888 CANT HIDE (888 226-8443).

Please visit www.labankrobbers.org for additional information about bank robbery suspects in the greater Los Angeles area.

MEDIA CONTACT:
FBI: Laura Eimiller: 310 996-334
Special Agent Patrick Conley: 310 629-9553