Detention Hearing Scheduled for Suspected 'Drywaller Bandit'

A detention hearing is scheduled Tuesday for a man believed to be the so-called “Drywaller Bandit,” a serial thief authorities said is responsible for a six-month spree of armed bank robberies in San Diego and Los Angeles counties, including several in Encinitas.   

John Leendert Oskam, 39, of Pasadena, is charged with armed bank robbery and use and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. He was arrested last week following his 11th alleged holdup and arraigned on federal charges.

At about 9:15 a.m. on Feb. 3, a man wearing a dust mask and armed with a pistol robbed a Chase Bank branch office in the 100 block of North El Camino Real in Encinitas, sheriff's Lt. Jim Walker said.   

A few minutes later, arriving deputies spotted a man matching the description of the robber walking to the east near the bank. Seeing the patrol personnel, he broke into a run.   

The deputies caught up with the suspect, later identified as Oskam, a short distance away and took him into custody.   

The “Drywaller Bandit,” so named by investigators due to the type of construction-style mask he wore during his crimes, is believed to have robbed the following banking offices, several of them twice:

— Citibank, 161 W. California Blvd., Pasadena, Aug. 13;   

— Wells Fargo, 350 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, Aug. 24;   

— US Bank, 1074 N. El Camino Real, Encinitas, Sept. 24 and Dec. 21;   

— Wells Fargo, 276 N. El Camino Real, Encinitas, Oct. 25;   

— Citibank, 113 N. El Camino Real, Encinitas, Nov. 19 and Dec. 27;   

— Chase, 615 College Blvd., Oceanside, Dec. 8;   

— Citibank, 4120 Oceanside Blvd., Oceanside, Jan. 8;   

— US Bank, 4136 Oceanside Blvd., Oceanside, Jan. 25; and

— Chase, 105 N. El Camino Real, Encinitas, Feb. 3.

The thief wielded a black handgun during each of the robberies, according to the FBI.

City News Service contributed to this report.