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ALTADENA -- A robber used a note to steal cash from a bank teller early Thursday, sheriff's officials said.
The crime occurred about 10 a.m. at Chase Bank, 2333 N. Lake Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. John Stanley said.
A robber described as a black man in his 40s, between 6 feet 2 inches and 6 feet 4 inches tall, and about 200 pounds, the sergeant said. He was bearded and wore all black clothing.
He used a note to demand cash from a teller, while gesturing as if he had a weapon, Stanley said. No weapon was seen.
The robber was last seen running southbound from the bank with a "large amount" of stolen cash, he added.
PHOTO: courtesy of the FBI

SAN MARINO -- A masked bank robber escaped, though apparently empty-handed, following a heist at a San Marino bank branch Friday, officials said.
The crime was reported about 11:45 a.m. at Chase Bank, 2270 Huntington Drive, San Marino police Officer Tim Tebbetts said in a written statement. The bank is located next door to the police station, and was previously robbed on Jan. 30.
The robber was described as a black man, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing about 160 pounds, police said. He wore dark blue ski mask, a black sweat shirt, blue jeans, black shoes and black gloves.
He jumped over the counter at the bank and helped himself to all the cash in one of the tellers' drawers, Tebbetts said.
No weapon was seen, officials added.
Police said the robber was last seen running south from the bank.
A bag of money apparently abandoned by the suspect was located nearby, Tebbetts said, however the robberwas not found.

LA PUENTE -- A man used a note demanding cash to rob a bank Saturday, authorities said.
The crime was reported shortly after 11 a.m. at a Chase bank branch at 925 N. Hacienda Blvd., just south of Amar Road, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Steven Katz.
The robber was described as an Asian man in his late 20s or early 30s who wore black clothing, the lieutenant said.
He used a note to demand money from a single teller and was last seen fleeing on foot, he said. No vehicle was seen in connection with the robbery, and no weapon was seen.
The FBI, which investigates bank robberies, was notified of the crime, Katz said.
Officials were going through area surveillance cameras Saturday in hopes they would provide more information about the robber.

Authorities jailed an apologetic man Wednesday who said he carried out a robbery spree spanning the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire to pay his son's drug debts.
John Richard Boynton, 39, of Fontana is suspected in at least nine robberies or attempted robberies throughout the region, including a bank robbery in Temple City and a failed robbery at a Diamond Bar bank, officials said.
"He said he was sorry," Detective Gerald Wright of the sheriff's Walnut/Diamond Bar Station said.
Local investigators have linked Boynton to a Wednesday bank robbery at a Bank of the West branch in Temple City, as well as an attempted robbery at a Tomato Bank in Diamond Bar on Monday.
In addition, Boynton is suspected of five robberies in a 24-hour period in Rialto, Highland and Fontana on June 26, a robbery at the Pacific Western Bank in Chino on July 3 and July 7 robbery of a Hilton Hotel gift shop in Ontario, authorities said.
Boynton admitted the robberies and told investigators he was in financial trouble and needed to help his son pay drug debts, officials said.
In the Temple City and Diamond Bar crimes, Boynton carried a gun, demanded money with a note and brought a plastic bag to place the stolen money in, Wright said.
Police arrested Boynton near his Fontana home about 4 p.m. Wednesday after the Chino Department Crime Analysis Unit identified him as a suspect in recent robberies,authorities said.
Members of the Chino police Special Enforcement Team made the arrest without a struggle as he tried to drive away from his house.
Boynton was being held at the San Bernardino County West Valley Detention Center.

*Above: Police say an image from a surveillance camera during the July 8 robbery at the Bank of the West in Temple City depicts serial robbery suspect John Boynton, 39, of Fontana. (Courtesy of the FBI)

GLENDORA -- Three to four men wearing ski masks and hooded sweat shirts carried out a takeover robbery at a local bank Friday, authorities said.
The robbery occurred about 5:40 p.m. at a Chase bank branch at 1905 E. Route 66, Glendora police Lt. Brian Summers said.
After ordering about 20 customers and employees to the ground, the robbers took money from each teller, the lieutenant said.
No weapons was scene, though the men motioned as if they had weapons hidden under their clothes, he added.
A getaway car was found abandoned nearby at Glenkirk Presbyterian Church, 1700 Palopinto Ave., Summers said. It was determined to be a stolen car.
The FBI is assisting Glendora police in the investigation.

PASADENA -- A robber who may have worn black make-up to hide is identity escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash after holding up a local bank, officials said.
The crime occurred about 2 p.m. when the robber entered a Chase bank branch at Colorado Boulevard and Lake Avenue and slipped a teller a note demanding cash, Pasadena police said. He was last seen running southbound from the bank.
The robber was described as a man in his 30s, standing about 6 feet tall, of thin build, Pasadena police Lt. Tracey Ibarra said.
Though the robber was initially reported to be a black man, authorities determined he may have been wearing dark make-up to mask his true race, she said. Witnesses reported the man's face had a strange, unnatural-color to it, and surveillance video shows the robber's hands are of much lighter complexion than his face.
No weapon was seen during the robbery.

The FBI has released this photograph of a man who robbed a Downey Savings branch in San Dimas on Wednesday, May 6, 2009.

SAN DIMAS - A robber claiming to have a handgun stole cash from a bank branch inside a supermarket Wednesday.

The crime was reported about 11:30 a.m. at a Downey Savings branch inside Albertsons, 220 E. Bonita Avenue.

The robber was described as a Latino man between 25 and 30 years old, standing about 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing about 250 pounds, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Craig Boyett said. He wore a black t-shirt, blue jeans and a black backpack.

After demanding cash from a teller, the robber fled in a red, early-model Chevy Cavalier, the lieutenant said.

He claimed to have a handgun, but one was not seen, he said.

The robbery is being investigated by the FBI, Boyett said.

ARCADIA -- A robber escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash Tuesday after robbing a Bank of the West branch, police said.
The heist was reported about 2:20 p.m. at the bank located at 1155 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia police officials said.
The robber used a demand note to rob a teller of cash and was last seen fleeing the area on foot, he said.
No further details were available late Wednesday.

MONTBELLO -- The FBI is hunting a serial bandit they've given the title, "The Will Shoot Bandit."  Not surpirisingly, the robber threatens to open fire in the banks if his demands for cash are not met promptly.

So far, officials believed he's responsible for a failed robbery attempt at a Montebello Bank of American branch on Tuesday, as well as a successful hesit at the same bank in December of last year.

In between, FBI officicials believe he robbed an Irvine Bank of America branch in January.

For the full story, click here.

 

 

As part of a series of articles published by the FBI on the major crimes and criminals in the FBI's history, the feds have published this interesting report on John Dillinger, whom they began hunting 75 years ago this month.

Next month, the FBI is promising a report on Bonnie and Clyde, complete with never-before-released files.

To see the report, click here.

*Photo courtesy of the FBI

Officials captured a man suspected of robbing or attempting to rob 17 Southern California banks in four weeks , inlcuding one in Covina, Wednesday, authorities said.
Brian Keith Robinson, 49, was arrested without incident at his Los Angeles home, FBI officials said in a written statement.
Robinson has been given the moniker, "the Salt and Pepper Bandit," because of his graying hair.
Robinson is suspected in a series of bank heists dating back to Jan. 5 in Covina, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Encino, Seal Beach, Beverly Hills, Glendale and Manhattan Beach, officials said.
Robinson allegedly passed a demand note to tellers and threatened to start shooting if his demands for cash were not met, officials said.
Robinson was first identified as a suspect in the Salt and Pepper Bandit robberies on Jan. 10, the FBI statement said, however he allegedly continued robbing banks, officials said.
He was located and arrested after photographs and the suspect's name were released to the public, officials added.
Robinson, who officials said is being charged federally, is due to make his first appearance before a United States magistrate in the United States District Court in Downtown Los Angeles Friday.

*Photo courtesy of the FBI

The FBI is seeking a man suspected of robbing and attempting to rob 17 Southland banks in four weeks, including one in Covina, authorities said.
Brian Keith Robinson, 49, is being sought in connection with the robberies and is suspected of being the prolific "Salt & Pepper Bandit," who earned his moniker because of his white and gray hair, FBI officials said in a written statement.
"During the robberies, the bandit threatens to start shooting if the victim tellers do not comply with his demands for cash," the statement said.
In addition to verbal demands, the robber also uses a a note to demand money, officials said.
The robber has struck banks in Covina, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Encino, Seal Beach, Beverly Hills, Glendale, West Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach and Beverlywood since Jan. 5, officials said.
On Tuesday in Los Angeles, the robber entered the bank but quickly fled after he was recognized by a bank employee, Eimiller said.
In some of the robberies, the suspect escaped with cash, while in others, such as the Covina crime, he left empty-handed.
In Covina, the robber showed up at the Citibank, 200 N. Citrus Avenue, on Jan. 16, Covina police Lt. John Curley said.
During the failed heist, the robber apparently became alarmed by something and fled without receiving any loot, Curley said.
Hours later, he carried out a successful robbery at a Los Angeles Bank, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.
The Salt & Pepper Bandit is described as a black man, between 5 feet 8 inches and 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing about 170 pounds, FBI officials said.
He's been seen driving a gold-colored, mid-1990s-model, 4-door Toyota Corolla, officials added.
A reward is being offered in exchange for information leading to the arrest of the Salt & Pepper Bandit, authorities said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office at (888) 226-8443.
*Photo courtesy of the FBI.

That's what execs at Wells Fargo want to do.

Here's a take from USA Today's On Deadline Blog:

Last fall, Wells Fargo bank received $25 billion from the federal bailout fund.

Last week, the bank reported losing $2.83 billion in the final three months of 2008.

Yesterday the bank reported it would pay a $371.5 million dividend to U.S. Treasury for the 25,000 preferred shares of stock purchased with the $25 billion.

Today it's reported that WF is planning corporate junkets to Las Vegas casinos this month.

From the Associated Press:

Wells Fargo, once among the top U.S. writers of subprime mortgages, has booked 12 nights at the Wynn Las Vegas and its sister hotel, the Encore Las Vegas beginning Friday, said Wynn spokeswoman Michelle Loosbrock. The hotels will host the annual conference for company's top mortgage officers.

The conference is a Wells Fargo tradition. Previous years have included all-expense-paid helicopter rides, wine tasting, horseback riding in Puerto Rico and a private Jimmy Buffett concert in the Bahamas for more than 1,000 employees and guests.

Now the whole thing is being reconsidered, according to Bloomberg:

Feb. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Wells Fargo & Co. said it has reconsidered holding an event in Las Vegas after reports earlier that the company had planned functions for its mortgage and insurance units.

Spokesman Kevin Waetke said in an e-mail the company has reconsidered holding the event. A follow up statement is "forthcoming," he wrote.

 

Local bank have experienced a wave of unauthorized withdrawls in recent days, as banks in Alhambra, San Marino and La Canada Flintridge were robbed Thursday and Friday.

In the case of Alhambra, it was the third robbery of the month.  A serial robber known as the Grizzly Adams Bandit visited a local bank twice on Jan. 6 and Jan. 26.

In San Marino, the bank robbed Friday shared a driveway with the San Marino Police Department.

In La Canada Flintridge, after robbing a bank, the same robber is believed to have robbed a pharmacy of prescription drugs about an hour later.