Police Arrest Suspect in 28 Bank Robberies

Los Angeles police Tuesday arrested the suspected Manila Envelope Bandit, who has been linked to 28 bank robberies, most of them in the San Fernando Valley.

Robert Will Weinert, 43, was arrested about 11 a.m. outside a Mission Hills motel near Sepulveda Boulevard and Nordhoff Street, where he was staying with his wife, Lt. Gabe Ornelas said.

Weinert was being held without bail in connection with the robberies and on suspicion of parole violations.

Weinert’s wife, Marilyn, 32, was arrested on felony warrants for narcotics convictions and receiving stolen property, police said. Her bail was set at $18,000.

Police said the robber was given his nickname because of how he carried the money that he allegedly took in the robberies.

The bandit, who gave tellers notes demanding money that he then placed in legal-sized manila envelopes, is suspected of robbing 25 banks in the Valley and three others in West Los Angeles, Ornelas said. The most recent robbery occurred Sept. 9 at a First Interstate Bank in West Los Angeles.

Police declined to say how much money the robber is suspected of taking from the banks.

Last week, police released photographs taken during those bank robberies, which prompted several anonymous phone calls to detectives. These clues led detectives to Weinert, who police believe has been moving from motel to motel in the Mission Hills and Sylmar areas, Ornelas said.