Crime & Safety

FBI Asks for Public's Help Nabbing 'Bad Beard Bandit'

By Bay City News Service

The FBI is asking for the public's help in identifying a bank robber dubbed the "Bad Beard Bandit" who has struck at five banks in Northern California, including two in the Bay Area.

The suspect has donned a dark, poor-quality fake beard in each of the robberies, the most recent of which occurred on Tuesday at a Citibank branch at 395 W. El Camino Real in Sunnyvale.

The suspect is also believed to be responsible for robberies on Dec. 4 at a Chase bank in Dublin, on Dec. 3 at a Chase bank in Tracy, on Nov. 26 at a Chase bank in Manteca and on Nov. 21 at a Bank of the West branch in Ripon, according to the FBI.

Along with the fake beard, the suspect was described as being a white or Hispanic man in his late 20s or early 30s who is about 5 feet 9 inches tall with a stocky build.

He was seen wearing blue jeans, baseball caps, hooded sweatshirts and lightweight zip-front jackets during the robberies, FBI officials said.

No weapon has been seen during the bank heists, but the suspect should be considered armed and dangerous, according to police.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the robberies is asked to call the FBI's Stockton office at (209) 474-8293.

Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.


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