FBI Nabs Bank Robbery Suspect

A suspected serial bank robber, dubbed “Mr. Pleats” by the FBI because of his stylish slacks, was arrested Friday morning in connection with two Orange County holdups, authorities said.

FBI agents apprehended Robert Writh Peterson, 33, at his Santa Ana home and booked him on suspicion of robbing a Union Bank in Irvine on Feb. 26 and a Bank of America in Santa Ana on Jan. 25.

Federal agents said Peterson is a major suspect in at least 15 other bank robberies committed since Nov. 2 in Costa Mesa, Irvine, Lake Forest, Orange, Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Santa Ana and Laguna Hills.

“In just about every surveillance photo we had of him, he was wearing styled, pleated pants,” said FBI spokesman Gary Morley, explaining the suspect’s nickname.

According to authorities, Peterson allegedly presented bank tellers with demand notes stating that he was armed and desperate. Although he had his hand in his pocket to indicate that he had a pistol, a weapon was never seen during any of the robberies, Morley said.

Federal agents describe Peterson as a prime suspect in the other Orange County robberies, which are still under investigation. “If we come up with the evidence,” Morley said, “he will be (charged) for those as well.”

If convicted, Peterson could be sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined $5,000 on each count of bank robbery.