‘Hypnotist Bandit’ linked to bank robberies in San Gabriel Valley

A man dubbed the “Hypnotist Bandit” by local law enforcement has robbed three banks in the San Gabriel Valley in the past week, according to the FBI.

The suspect, who earned his nickname because of the way he stared at his victims during each robbery, struck twice Tuesday morning, making off with an undisclosed amount of money from an HSBC Bank branch on Las Tunas Drive in Temple City and a Bank of the West branch in South El Monte, according to the FBI’s news release.

He was also linked to the robbery of a Bank of the West Branch on East Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena on May 27, according to the release. In each case, the “Bandit” passed a note to a teller demanding cash, and in one case, threatened to use a weapon, the FBI said.

The FBI released images of the suspect taken by surveillance cameras. He was described as standing between six feet and two inches and six feet and four inches tall. He is believed to be roughly 30 years old and sports a thin frame, weighing between 190 and 200 pounds, according to the release.

Witnesses also told police the man has dark hair, brown eyes, a goatee and a faded red heart tattoo with a black outline on one hand.

Each robbery occurred within a 10-mile span, and the “Bandit” appeared to be making his way south from Pasadena between the May 27 robbery and the Tuesday morning thefts.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s and Pasadena Police departments are also involved in the investigation.

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