High Profile Bank Robbery Suspects Sought – Photo and Composite Drawing Available

April 5, 2001

Who:
Robbery Homicide Division Detectives
What:
Press Conference – Public Release of Several Bank Robbery Suspect Drawings & Photos
Where:
Los Angeles Police Department Headquarters, Parker Center, 150 N. Los Angeles, Los Angeles
When:
Friday, April 6, 2001
10:00 a.m.
Los Angeles – Robbery Homicide Division Detectives are seeking the public’s assistance in locating and arresting two (2) dangerous bank robbery suspects who have been active in the Los Angeles area recently.

Mumbles Bandit: Between January 31, 2001 and March 21, 2001, a male Caucasian described as 5’6" to 5’8" tall, 150 to 180 lbs, 35-45 years old with salt & pepper hair has been involved in six (6) bank robberies in the San Fernando Valley Area of Los Angeles. The suspect often demands money with a threat to the teller if he or she does not comply immediately. After obtaining the money, the suspect walks to a vehicle parked nearby and is driven from the scene by a second male get-away driver of unknown description. This bank robber has been donned the "Mumbles Bandit."

Van Nuys Bank Bandit: On March 15, 2001, at approximately 10:15 a.m., two armed suspects wearing ski masks entered the Washington Mutual Bank located at 14049 Ventura Boulevard. Two male suspects jumped over a teller counter and demanded money. The robbery turned violent when one of the robbers struck the bank manager several times in the head with his gun when she did not open the vault fast enough. The robbery suspects left the bank with bags of cash in a van which they abandoned when LAPD police pursued them into an alley. Although the stolen van, money and weapons were recovered, the officers were unsuccessful in their attempt to locate the suspects.
Later, on the night of March 15, 2001, at approximately 12.45 a.m., the LAPD investigators discovered that one of the robbers had broken into an apartment in the area of the bank and had held a family hostage while the police were conducting the search. The suspect held the residents at knifepoint for approximately 3 1/2 hours until he felt it was safe to leave. The suspect has been described as a male African-American, 5’7" tall, 150 lbs, and approximately 33 years of age.
Washington Mutual Bank is offering a $10,000 reward for any information resulting in the arrest and conviction of the suspects involved in this case.
Robbery Homicide Division-Bank Detail is handling these investigations and will provide a photo of the "Mumbles Bandit," and a composite drawing of the "Van Nuys Bank Bandit." Anyone with information regarding the identities of the above-mentioned suspects can call Robbery Homicide Division at
213-485-0780 during regular business hours. After hours and on weekends, please call the Los Angeles Police Department Command Post at 213-485-2504, or the FBI Office at 310-477-6565.
This press release was prepared by Officer Guillermo Campos, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.