Transient Stopped at Border Believed To Be ‘Spiderman’ Bank Robber

A 31-year-old San Diego County man believed to be the “Spiderman” bank robber was seized by federal authorities after an immigration inspector spotted a spider-web tattoo on the back of his neck as he tried to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, police said Thursday.

Gilbert Sanchez Rodriguez, a transient who frequents East County, was trying to enter the United States from Mexico on Wednesday when inspector Alan Connaughy spotted the distinctive marking on his neck, FBI officials said Thursday.

Rodriguez was traveling with an unidentified woman and a baby, who were stopped shortly after 8 p.m. on suspicion of making false claims of U.S. citizenship at the port of entry in San Ysidro.

Rodriguez’s neck tattoo combined with information obtained from his driver’s license made Connaughy think of similarities between Rodriguez and the suspect wanted by the FBI in connection with the “Spiderman” robberies.

The bandit, who is suspected of robbing 13 banks throughout San Diego County since last November, gained his name because of a tattoo of a spider web on the right side of his neck, San Diego police spokesman Bill Robinson said.

Police also described the bandit as having a teardrop tattoo in the corner of each eye, a birthmark on his right cheek and “L-O-V-E” tattooed on his knuckles.

FBI spokesman Ron Orrantia could not confirm whether Rodriguez had the additional markings.

So far, authorities are holding Rodriguez on suspicion of one robbery, which occurred March 6 at the First California Bank in La Mesa, FBI officials said. Rodriguez is also considered the prime suspect in the 12 other robberies.

Orrantia said the decision to charge Rodriguez with some or all of the other robberies will be made during his indictment, which could come next week.

Rodriguez was being held at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center and was to be arraigned Thursday.

Police spokesman Robinson said the “Spiderman” bandit last struck Tuesday at a Wells Fargo Bank on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. The bandit is also suspected of robbing banks in Chula Vista, Mission Valley, San Carlos, Mira Mesa, Kearny Mesa and Clairemont.