FBI seeks identity of ‘Skinny Bandit’ bank robber

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) ask the public’s help in identifying a suspect connected to a bank robbery at Chase Bank in Ramona on June 12 and an attempted robbery at Bank of America in Ramona on June 14.

The suspect, dubbed the “Skinny Bandit,” is also linked to a robbery at the US Bank at 9400 Mira Mesa Blvd. in San Diego on June 9.

The FBI has described the Skinny Bandit as a black male believed to be in his mid-20s to 30s. He has a slender build, weighs 140 to 170 pounds and is 6 feet to 6 feet, 6 inches tall. Authorities reported that the Skinny Bandit threatened the use of a weapon but none was seen during the robberies.

The first in the series of bank robberies occurred at US Bank at about 10:44 a.m. The FBI reported that the robber entered the bank and passed a note to the teller demanding money. The note also threatened to shoot the teller.

The teller complied with the robber’s demand and the robber left the bank on foot with a sum of cash.

The same suspect reportedly struck the Chase Bank, 1467 Main St. in Ramona, at about 3:55 p.m. June 12. He passed a note to the teller demanding money and threatening to shoot the teller and customers in the bank. The teller provided the robber with a sum of money before he fled the bank.

The attempted robbery at the Bank of America, 1407 Main St. in Ramona, occurred at about 12:20 p.m. Thursday. After entering the bank, the suspect waited behind other customers in line. The suspect appeared to become nervous and fled the bank, the federal agency reported.

During the robberies, the suspect wore a black baseball cap, a dark shirt and sunglasses. On the second two occasions, he held a bandana over his lower face while inside the targeted banks.

After robbing the US Bank, the suspect changed clothes at a nearby fast-food restaurant and surveillance cameras captured him wearing a white T-shirt and light grey shorts, the FBI said. He was no longer wearing the black hat and sunglasses.

Anyone with information about any of the robberies is asked to call San Diego Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or contact the agency online at sdcrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

City News Service contributed to this report.