LA Serial Bank Robber Arrested, FBI Says

LOS ANGELES, CA — A South Bay man suspected of being a prolific serial bank robber known as the 'Green Gaiter Bandit' has been arrested, the FBI announced Tuesday.

Authorities believe 55-year-old Christopher Paul Daniels, of Torrance, robbed about 12 banks throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties since October. They closed in on him Sunday in Palos Verdes Estates.

The FBI dubbed the serial bank robber the 'Green Gaiter Bandit' thanks to his signature face-covering.

Investigators believe the Green Gaitor Bandit may actually be two separate bank robbers and are still looking for a second suspect. Authorities believe at least one additional white male suspect is linked to 7 additional robberries attributed to the Green Gaiter Bandit, according to the FBI.

"Daniels has been linked to at least 12 of the robberies," the FBI announced in a written statement. "Daniels wore a green camouflage gaiter covering part of his face during some of robberies, according to an affidavit in support of the complaint, and was arrested while occupying a white Toyota Yaris, also seen during some of the robberies he allegedly committed."

The complaint charges Daniels with bank robberies or attempted bank robberies in:

U.S. Bank in Mission Viejo on January 7;
Wells Fargo Bank in Placentia on January 21;
Chase Bank in Fullerton on January 21; and
Bank of the West in Fullerton on January 27.

The complaint also alleges Daniels is suspected in at least eight other robberies as recently as Feb. 22 and 23 in Santa Fe Springs, Downey, Whittier, Gardena and Bellflower.

Daniels made his initial court appearance on Monday and was denied bond and remanded to federal custody.

Daniels' arrest was the culmination of a massive investigation involving multiple agencies including the FBI; the Huntington Beach Police Department; the Costa Mesa Police Department; the Orange County Sheriff’s Department; the Gardena Police Department; the Placentia Police Department; the Fullerton Police Department; the Downey Police Department; the Whittier Police Department; the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; the Los Angeles Police Department; the Torrance Police Department and the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center (OCIAC).