FBI Hunts For South Bay Bandit

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA – The FBI released surveillance images Friday of a woman known as the South Bay Bandit because she's suspected of robbing three banks in Manhattan Beach, El Segundo and Gardena and attempting another robbery in Torrance. The suspected woman is black, about 5 feet 3 inches tall, with a medium build, and favors dark casual clothing and dark sunglasses.

The robberies tended to occur late in the day, and the suspect had little to say – instead, she typically passes a note demanding thousands of dollars in cash, according to the FBI, which reports that at least one demand included a threat suggesting an accomplice was acting as a lookout and that the teller would be hurt for failing to comply.

The bank robberies occurred on June 27 in Manhattan Beach, on July 20 in El Segundo and on Aug. 28 in Gardena. The attempted robbery also occurred on Aug. 28, according to the FBI. Anyone with information regarding the identity or whereabouts of the suspect was urged to call local law enforcement, 911 or the FBI at (310) 477- 6565.

City News Service and Patch staffer Emily Holland contributed to this post; Photos courtesy of the FBI