Sleeves Bandit named as Citibank suspect

The FBI has determined that a bank robber deemed the “Sleeves Bandit” is responsible for a robbery in La Cañada and one in La Crescenta. The agency, along with the police and sheriff’s departments, is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect.

The two crimes in the area attributed to the suspect are the La Crescenta Citibank robbery that occurred on Dec. 26, 2008 and the La Cañada Citibank robbery on Jan. 30, 2009. It is also believed he is responsible for a La Cañada pharmacy robbery that same day.

In some earlier reports by the media the suspect involved in the La Cañada robbery had been called the “Ring Master Bandit” but after reviewing the surveillance tapes agents found that suspect was more likely the “Sleeves Bandit,” said Laura Eimiller, FBI spokeswoman.

The “Sleeves Bandit” is named for what appear to be fake tattoo sleeves he has worn during some of the 15 robberies attributed to him throughout the state. Law enforcement officials believe that this suspect has committed one-man, armed takeover bank robberies; the majority of which have been in northern California.

He has been described as a white man, early-to-mid-50s, with short white or gray hair, 5’10” to 6’ tall, medium build and weighing 180 to 200 pounds. He covers his face with a ski-type mask but recently, as in the La Crescenta robbery, he is wearing a hat and net similar to a beekeeper’s helmet and veil.

The La Cañada robbery occurred about 5:50 p.m. on Jan. 30. According to Crescenta Valley Sheriff detective Frank Diana, there was one customer and several bank employees in Citibank at 742 Foothill Blvd. at the time. The armed suspect entered and ordered those that were in front of the teller counter to stand in an area where he could see them. He demanded money from each teller window. He then exited through the bank’s back door with an undisclosed amount of currency. The robber is also suspected of being the man who just an hour later entered Cal-Med Pharmacy in the 2000 block of Foothill Boulevard and demanded prescription drugs.

“It appears to be the same suspect because of the similarity of his description by witnesses,” Diana said.

The La Crescenta Citibank robbery was similar to La Cañada. The armed suspect entered the bank just before closing. There were no customers, only employees in the bank at the time. He approached one of the tellers, pointed his gun directly at her and ordered her to give him the money in her drawer. He then repeated his order at other windows. When one of the tellers told him she had given him all the money in the drawer, he sprayed her in the eyes with pepper spray.

“That was the only bank he had pepper-sprayed anyone,” Diana said.

The suspect left the bank with an undisclosed amount of currency and walked southbound on Rosemont Avenue.

La Crescenta Citibank is located in the Market Place close to a Starbucks, Baskin Robbins and several other stores. It is hoped that someone may have seen something that would lead to the identity of the suspect.

Anyone who has information concerning either of these robberies or the suspect is asked to contact the FBI at (888) 226-8443 or Det. Frank Diana at CV Sheriff’s Station (818) 248-3464.