Suspect in West Covina Bank Robbery Nabbed

A man authorities have dubbed the "Explosives Threat Bandit" has been arrested. William Joseph Allen was arrested April 17 and is in federal custody, according to FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller. 

Allen was wanted for a string of bank robberies in the neighboring city of West Covina, Los Angeles, and West Hollywood between November 2011 and January of this year. The suspect allegedly threatened to blow up the banks he robbed and left a fake bomb behind each time, the FBI said. 

On Nov. 15, the suspect, dubbed the “Explosives Threat Bandit,” robbed the Bank of America in the 2900 block of Eastland Center Drive, according to a news release.  He entered the bank and said, “I have a bomb.”

During the West Covina robbery, the suspect can be seen on surveillance tape wearing a suit.

At both the West Covina robbery and the one at the West Hollywood Bank of America, the suspect left a device behind made up of electronic components and wiring.   He said that someone outside of the bank would detonate the device and made an oral demand for as much as $20,000 in cash, according to the news release.  He also handed a written note to the teller.

The notes indicated the suspect had a friend outside the bank monitoring a police frequency and that he would make a call to advise the friend to “press a button.” One note indicated that once the friend was contacted, the “establishment will not exist.”

--City News Services contributed to this report

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