3 Bank Robbers Alone Responsible for Spike in San Diego Bank Robberies

The FBI claims that just three bank robbers in San Diego are responsible for a significant spike in bank robberies in the area over the past year.

FBI Special Agent Darrell Foxworth told local ABC affiliate 10News that one of the thieves, known as “El Chaparrito,” or “Short Bandit,” is responsible for 14 bank robberies in San Diego County alone.

“He’s very threatening when he goes into the banks,” Foxworth said in the report. “This is someone we want to get off the streets sooner than later.”

The report notes that El Chaparrito is so “bold,” he robbed a North Island Credit Union, then casually walked to the neighboring US Bank and robbed it next.

“He’s very demonstrative,” Foxworth said. “He goes in there, he’s got his hands up in the air, he’s yelling at people. He’s very bold. He will tell people to either get their hands up or to get down on the ground.”

According to the FBI, there have been 73 bank robberies in San Diego County so far this year, up 25 percent from the same time last year. There were just 57 bank robberies in the area in all of 2013.

Rounding out the trio of serial bank robbers in San Diego is the “Geezer Bandit,” who has so far eluded authorities while robbing his way through 16 banks, and the “Mole Bandit” and “Hills Bandit,” who are responsible for nine bank robberies between them.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, “El Chaparrito” was described after a recent heist as a “Latino man masked with a blue bandana and wearing a ballcap, sunglasses, jeans, and a blue sweatshirt.” The FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction.