A local bandit’s week-long bank robbing spree in the North County has finally come to an end.
On Saturday the FBI, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and Carlsbad Police Department announced that an arrest has been made in the case of the so-called “Chubby Bandit,” a man accused of robbing at least five banks and one pharmacy in the North County area since Oct. 9.
Officials said suspect Aaron Alan Hyman, 27, was taken into custody near Highway 78 and El Camino Real.
Since his spree began last week, the very busy “Chubby Bandit” has allegedly robbed banks and a CVS pharmacy in Poway, Carlsbad, Solana Beach, Encinitas and San Marcos, hitting a new target nearly every single day over the course of nine days.
In the robberies, he has used a demand note and made verbal demands. He has also verbally threatened and gestured to have a gun, officials said.
He earned his nickname from agents due to his size, estimated at 180 to 200-pounds. He was also known to wear a baseball hat with the “NY” logo on it during many of the robberies.
FBI officials have released several bank surveillance images of the bank bandit.
Investigators said those photos, and Hyman’s criminal past, helped lead to his arrest Saturday.
According to authorities, Hyman was arrested for domestic violence earlier this month. The FBI said a sheriff’s deputy identified Hyman from bank surveillance photos as someone he had previously dealt with during his patrols.
Local
Carlsbad police also simultaneously identified Hyman as the "Chubby Bandit." NBC 7 learned that Hyman also had a restraining order filed against him on Oct. 3 stemming from domestic violence accusations.
On Saturday night, Hyman was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on robbery charges. His bail was set at $100,000. He is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
