Seen Him? 'Knuckles Bandits' Sought in Serial Bank Robberies

LOS ANGELES, CA - Police and the FBI on Monday sought information about one or possibly more robbery suspects in what they are calling the "knuckles bandits" case.

A half-dozen robberies occurred between November and January at bank branches located in supermarkets in Los Angeles, Northridge and Sherman Oaks, according to Laura Eimiller of the FBI's Los Angeles field office.

Authorities came up with the moniker knuckles bandits because a suspect in one of the robberies appeared to have tattoos on his knuckles, Eimiller said. Authorities aren't sure, however, if they are dealing with a single suspect or more, she said.

"During the robberies, the knuckles bandit/s approach the victim teller window and present the victim with a note demanding cash," Eimiller said.

In the most recent robbery, on Jan. 20 at a Wells Fargo branch inside an Albertsons at 2035 Hillhurst Ave. in Los Feliz, the suspect claimed to have a gun and a victim said he appeared to have one in his pocket, according to Eimiller.

The only suspect description available is of an Hispanic or Armenian male with a trimmed beard or goatee. In each case, the robber wore sweatshirts, ball caps or hats. During a Dec. 8 robbery at a Wells Fargo Bank in a Vons market at 1390 N. Allen Blvd. in Pasadena, the suspect appeared to have tattoos on his knuckles, but they may have been drawn onto his hands, Eimiller said.

In addition to the above robberies, heists occurred on:

• Nov. 23 at a US Bank branch inside a Ralphs supermarket at 14440 Burbank Blvd. in Sherman Oaks;
• Dec. 16 at a US Bank branch inside an Albertsons at 19307 Saticoy St. in Reseda;
• Dec. 23 at a US Bank branch inside a Ralphs store at 1101 W. Huntington Drive in Arcadia; and
• Jan. 4 at a Wells Fargo branch inside a Vons at 9119 Reseda Blvd. in Northridge.

Anyone with information about the case was urged to call the nearest FBI office or dial 911.

--City News Service, photos courtesy of the FBI