The FBI today announced that the reward for information that will help catch the “Ho-Hum Bandit,” a suspect wanted for robbing numerous banks across three counties in Southern California, has increased to $15,000.
Citibank, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo and the FBI have joined to offer a total reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for 12 bank robberies, FBI spokesman Laura Eimiller confirmed.
On Saturday, the suspect robbed a Laguna Beach bank, his 12th Southern California bank holdup, authorities said.
It’s also the second time he’s targeted that particular U. S. Bank on the 300 block of Glenneyere Street, Lt. Jason Kravetz, a spokesman for the Laguna Beach Police Department said.
A day earlier, the suspect held up a Corona del Mar Citibank on the 3000 block of E. Coast Highway, the same branch he held up in June.
“We've had some robbers who have done this before,'' FBI Special Agent Chris Gicking said Monday. “They usually say they got away with it before. They got a decent enough amount of cash; they know the neighborhood. They've already scoped it out and they think, `I'll do it again.' They don't have to do the homework anymore.''
Police arrived at the bank at 9:22 a.m. Saturday morning. According to the Laguna Beach Police department, the suspect handed a teller a note saying he had a gun and wanted money. The suspect escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash, said Kravetz.
The suspect was dubbed “Ho-Hum” because of his ordinary appearance.
“He’s like an average looking guy,” Kravetz said. “He wouldn’t draw any attention.”
According to a description in an FBI news release, the suspect is a white man around 25-35 years old, stands around 5'7" to 5'10" and weighs around 160 to 170 pounds. He has a thin build and brown hair.
The suspect wears a baseball cap, blue jeans, white sneakers, and sometimes prescription sunglasses.
He also worn a Dale Earnhardt Jr. baseball cap once and has 2" long sideburns, said Eimiller.
Authorities said the suspect has targeted two banks in Orange County and one in Riverside County, but most of the robberies have been in San Diego County.
Crime tips can be reported to (888) CANT-HIDE or (888) 226-8443.
