City Council to Up Reward that Leads to the Capture of 'Purse-Packing Bandit'

A proposal by several City Council members would add $10,000 to a $5,000 reward being offered by the FBI for information that leads to the apprehension of the so-called “Purse-Packing Bandit,” who’s believed to have committed 10 bank robberies on the Westside.

The reward motion by Councilmen Tom LaBonge, Paul Koretz and Mitch Englander will be considered at an upcoming council meeting.

LAPD Capt. William Hayes told reporters today that investigators hope a larger reward will help them track down the unidentified woman.

“The level of violence is of concern,” he said. “She has displayed a handgun in crowded banks during the day. We’re concerned that an innocent individual could be harmed.”

The robber is described as 30 to 40 years old, weighing 130 to 160 pounds and standing between 5-foot-2 and 5-foot-5. In each of the holdups, she presented a demand note, then removed a pistol from her purse and pointed it at the bank teller, police said.

The suspect was caught on surveillance video on March 27 at a Bank of America branch in the 400 block of North La Brea Avenue, allowing detectives to release new and better quality photos of her.

The heists -- all in densely populated areas -- began in October 2012, with the most recent holdup occurring on July 21.

Anyone with information was asked to call LAPD Detective Victor Mrin at (213) 486-6840.

--City News Service

PHOTO Courtesy the Los Angeles Police Department