The FBI is offering a reward up to $20,000 for information leading to an arrest of a serial bank robber who’s struck 15 banks in the San Diego area since November of last year.
Known as the “El Chapparito Bandit,” the bandit’s latest robbery occurred on Saturday at a Wells Fargo Bank branch at 10707 Camino Ruiz in San Diego.
In that heist, the robber entered the bank and yelled “hands up, everyone,” and simulated a weapon under his shirt with his thumb, the FBI reported. He then approached two bank tellers and demanded money from each of them.
He took off with an undisclosed amount of money in a bag. No weapon was seen.
A San Diego Sheriff's Department sketch artist used bank surveillance photographs from a recent robbery as well as witness statements to develop the above sketch.
The robber is described as Asian or Hispanic, in his mid-20s, 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall, with dark hair and a skinny build.
He was wearing a blue baseball cap, a blue bandanna-style mask, sunglasses, yellow gloves, blue jeans and dark shoes.
Here are the other banks the “El Chapparito Bandit” has hit:
- Chase Bank, 1101 E. Plaza Blvd. in National City on Nov. 19, 2013
- California Coast Credit Union, 1060 University Ave. in San Diego on Dec. 13, 2013
- Chase Bank, 6116 Mission Gorge Road in San Diego on Dec. 19, 2013
- Chase Bank, 4500 Bonita Road in Bonita on Jan. 3, 2014
- Chase Bank, 4111 Governor Drive in San Diego on Jan. 10, 2014
- Chase Bank, 5303 Ruffin Road in San Diego on Jan. 15, 2014
- Wells Fargo Bank, 1220 Cleveland Ave. in San Diego on Jan. 23, 2014
- Bank of America, 5821 Balboa Ave. in San Diego on Jan. 29, 2014
