Suspect in ‘Marx Brothers’ Bank Robberies Is Arrested

A man FBI agents allege is one of the bank-robbing “Marx Brothers,” blamed for holdups at 11 banks and savings and loan offices in two years, was arrested Friday at his home here.

Roger Allen Lockridge, 53, was arrested without incident by FBI agents, Los Angeles police and Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies, said Richard Bretzing, special agent in charge of the Los Angeles FBI office.

Known for their bizarre disguises, the Marx Brothers bandits have been blamed for several Orange County bank robberies in recent years, including holdups last October in Fullerton, two years ago in both Garden Grove and Costa Mesa, and in Corona del Mar in 1983.

However, an FBI spokesman said late Friday that information was not immediately available as to whether agents have been able to link Lockridge to any of the Orange County crimes.

Lockridge was booked for investigation of bank robbery stemming from a Dec. 9 holdup at Central Savings & Loan Assn. in San Dimas, FBI spokesman Jim Neilson said.

He said Lockridge would remain in custody until at least Monday, when he is scheduled to be arraigned before a federal magistrate and formally charged with bank robbery.

“Lockridge is suspected of robbing a total of 11 banks and savings and loan associations in the Los Angeles area and is also suspected of being one of the bandits known as the Marx Brothers,” Neilson said.

Lockridge was arrested about 3 p.m. Friday, but Neilson said he could not comment on what led to his arrest.

Authorities also were looking for Lockridge’s brother, 56-year-old Lawrence, said Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sam Jones. He added that detectives were trying to obtain a federal warrant for the brother’s arrest.

The Marx Brothers bandits often donned curly wigs and Groucho-style mustaches before taking over a branch bank at gunpoint and cleaning out the cash drawers or vault. Other disguises included clerical garb, business outfits and hard hats, Neilson said.

More than $380,000 was taken during the holdups, he added.

No one was injured in any of the robberies, but “there was always a weapon shown,” Neilson said.