The FBI is offering a $20,000 reward to capture a serial bank robber known as the “Hipster Bandit,” a mystery man with 10 heists across San Diego County under his belt.
Over the course of one year, the FBI said the Hipster Bandit is suspected in eight robberies in San Diego County and two attempted bank robberies.
The latest in the series was on July 2 at a Wells Fargo Bank in Carlsbad, located at 6951 El Camino Real – exactly one year to the date of the first robbery committed by the Hipster Bandit.
According to FBI officials, the suspect typically targets bank branches located inside grocery stores and uses a demand note. In some instances, the Hispter Bandit has been spotted walking the perimeter of the stores before approaching a teller’s station.
Most of time, the suspect waits in line until he is called by the next available teller, greets the teller and then holds up a demand note that reads: “This is a robbery.”
The FBI said the bandit is believed to have used two types of getaway vehicles in his heists: a motorcycle and a blue SUV.
In the first robbery in the series – on July 2, 2015, at a US Bank at 8920 Fletcher Parkway in La Mesa – he fled in a blue SUV. During his last robbery on July 2, 2016, in Carlsbad, he fled on a newer, black motorcycle with black hard-case saddlebags – possibly a Harley Davidson or Triumph.
Local
In addition to the first and last bank robberies, the FBI said the Hipster Bandit is also linked to these cases:
• Sept. 25, 2015: US Bank at 1133 S. Mission Rd. in Fallbrook
• Nov. 2, 2015: Wells Fargo Bank at 10675 Scripps Poway Parkway in San Diego
• Jan. 9, 2016: Wells Fargo Bank at 4725 Clairemont Dr. in San Diego
• Feb. 9, 2016: Wells Fargo Bank at 2560 El Camino Real in Carlsbad
• April 1, 2016: US Bank at 29530 Rancho California Rd. in Temecula, California
• May 18, 2016: Wells Fargo Bank at 845 College Blvd. in Oceanside
• May 18, 2016: Union Bank at 101 Old Grove Rd. in Oceanside
• July 2, 2016: Wells Fargo Bank at 26022 Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo, California
No injuries have been reported in any of the suspect’s robberies, but he remains at large. Anyone with information on the Hipster Bandit’s identity or whereabouts can reach out to the FBI at (858) 320-1800 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
