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Public Safety

Geezer Bandit Strikes Again

Some call him a hero - a modern day John Dillinger - while others criticize him. But whatever you think of him, the bank robber dubbed the “Geezer Bandit” has struck again.

The man, a white male who appears to be 60-70 years old, robbed a Wells Fargo bank in La Jolla on Sept. 30, according to FBI Special Agent Darrel Foxworth.

The robbery is the 15th heist attributed to the “Geezer,” who has been seen on security videos wearing a navy blazer, dark pants and a cap. Rumors have circulated about the possibility of the robber actually being a younger man, clad in a mask and gloves.

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The bandit usually conducts a quiet transaction: He passes the bank teller a note, requesting a modest sum of money, and reveals a revolver in his left hand.

No one has been physically injured in the 15 robberies. Even so, Agent Foxworth issued a statement cautioning the public against romanticizing this criminal figure.

"Think if this was your son, your daughter, your wife, your husband, that was a victim of this crime, I think people would think differently before glamorizing this person in any way," said Foxworth. "He is not someone to be glamorized at all. He is a armed and dangerous criminal.”

The FBI is offering $20,000 as a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the “Geezer Bandit.”

KPBS has created a public safety coverage policy to guide decisions on what stories we prioritize, as well as whose narratives we need to include to tell complete stories that best serve our audiences. This policy was shaped through months of training with the Poynter Institute and feedback from the community. You can read the full policy here.