Bank surveillance photograph from the Wells Fargo Bank in El Cajon on November 28.
SAN DIEGO–The FBI, San Diego Police Department and San Diego Sheriff’s Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify a bank robber who feigns to be engaged in small conversation while conducting his bank robberies.
The robber dubbed the “Chit Chat Bandit” likes to appear that he is engaged in conversation related to legitimate banking business while he conducts his bank robberies.
The Chit Chat Bandit is believed to be responsible for robbing two Wells Fargo Banks on November 26, and November 28.
The first robbery occurred on November 26 at the Wells Fargo Bank branch at 7544 Girard Avenue in La Jolla. During this robbery, the Chit Chat Bandit allegedly handed the victim teller a demand note for cash. The note demanded the teller to provide him with all the money the teller had in their cash drawer. The Chit Chat Bandit also made a verbal demand for cash and attempted to engage in small talk with the victim teller. After receiving a sum of money, the Chit Chat Bandit exited the bank.
On November 28, the Chit Chat Bandit” allegedly robbed the Wells Fargo Bank located inside the Vons grocery store at 13439 Camino Canada in El Cajon. During this robbery, the Chit Chat Bandit approached the victim teller and made a verbal demand for money. While the teller was collecting cash from their cash drawer, the Chit Chat Bandit demanded money from another teller. After receiving a sum of money from both tellers, the Chit Chat Bandit exited the grocery store and made his getaway on a small green BMX-style bicycle. No injuries have been reported, and a weapon has not been displayed in any of the robberies to date.
The robber is described as a white male in his mid-30s, approximately 160 to 170 pounds, five feet, ten inches tall with a slender build, and blonde facial hair and goatee beard under bottom lip. In the first robbery, the robber wore dark sunglasses, an orange reflector vest, and a long-sleeved, dark tan shirt under the vest. In the second robbery, the robber wore a dark baseball cap, dark shirt, and light-colored pants.
Anyone with information concerning the Chit Chat Bandit is asked to contact the FBI at telephone number (858) 320-1800, or San Diego Crime Stoppers at (888) 540-8477.
