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WHITTIER -- A failed robbery at a Chase bank branch in Uptown Whittier Wednesday is believed to be the work of a serial robber dubbed the "Black and Blue Bandit," according to the FBI.
He's been linked to robberies and attempted robberies at banks in Whittier, Montebello and Downey. He was given his moniker because he wears arm slings, knee and arm braces and Band-Aids during the crimes, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.
Wednesday's robbery was reported at 5:01 p.m. at the bank, 13103 E. Philadelphia Street, Whittier police officials confirmed Friday.
The suspect entered the bank and passed a note to a teller demanding money, Whittier police Sgt. Jim De Masi said.
He fled the bank on foot without receiving any money, the sergeant said. "No weapon was seen."
Whittier police said the robber wore a Band-Aid on his right cheek during the crime.
The Black and Blue Bandit has also been linked to a Nov. 12 robbery at a Chase bank branch at 896 Beverly Blvd., Eimiller said.
In that case, the robber pretended to have a weapon as he handed a teller a note demanding $4,000, Montebello police Lt. Rick Rojas said shortly after the heist.
The teller went to a back room, claiming he was going to retrieve the money for the bandit, Rojas said. The teller activated a silent alarm instead.
The robber apparently became nervous and ran from the bank without any cash, police said. He was last seen headed east from the bank.
Witnesses told police the bandit was dressed in blue medical scrubs and wore a blue baseball cap and kept one of his arms in a blue sling, Rojas said. He also has blue eyes.
FBI officials said the Black and Blue Bandit had previously made an Oct. 20 visit to the Bank of America branch, 10010 Paramount Blvd. in Downey.
In that robbery, a handgun was seen tucked into his waistband, and the robber fled with about $3,300, Downey police Detective Maria Villegas said.
The FBI described the bandit as a white man in his 40s, about 5-feet 9-inches tall, 175 pounds, with acne scars on his face.
Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI's Los Angeles 24-hour line at 800-226-8883.

SURVEILLANCE photos courtesy of the FBI

DOWNEY -- The owner of a nightclub and ranch in El Monte was shot to death early Wednesday during what police believe was a home-invasion robbery at his Downey house, authorities said.
Hermilio Franco, 53, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 2:50 a.m. shooting in the 9300 block of Gainford Avenue, Downey police officials said in a written statement.
He was the CEO of El Farallon Nightclub and Rancho Farallon, 9226 Gilman Road in El Monte, Downey police Detective Sam Gatfield said. The nightclub and rodeo venue also has a Riverside location.
"Officers were dispatched to a possible prowler call with "shots heard" at a residence on Gainford Avenue," according the the Downey police statement.
"When officers arrived, family members contacted them and said there were intruders inside the residence," the statement said.
Police found Franco lying on the floor of his home suffering from a fatal gunshot wound, police said.
Another man, a suspect in the deadly home-invasion robbery, was also found inside the home suffering from a gunshot wound, Gatfield said.
"That suspect was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital where he is listed in serious condition and expected to survive," the police statement said.
A second suspect in the killing was spotted by witnesses fleeing the area on foot and remained at large, authorities added.
He was only described as wearing dark clothing.
Family members of Franco could not be reached for comment Wednesday, and a group of man gathered at El Farallon declined to comment. The El Farallon website listed Franco's first name as Emilio.
It was not clear Wednesday if anything was stolen form the home during the incident, Gatfield said.
Because the investigation was in its early stages, Gatfield said, police declined to release more details about the crime Wednesday, including the name or any information about the hospitalized suspect.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Gatfield at 562-904-2391 or Detective Maria Villegas at 562-904-2324.
Tips can also be left anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477, online at lacrimestoppers.org or via text message by testing the letters "TIPLA" and the information to 274637.

This tragic story comes courtesy of City News Service:

DOWNEY -- Whoever gunned down a Bellflower man in front of his wife and children in an apparent case of road rage in Downey was at large Sunday, police said.
Juan Pacheco, 28, was shot about 6:30 p.m. Friday on the 105 Freeway while he was merging from the Lakewood Boulevard on-ramp, according to Downey police.
"As the victim was transitioning onto the eastbound 105 freeway from Lakewood Boulevard, a verbal altercation occurred between the victim and the occupants" of a blue 2002 or 2003 Honda Accord with chrome wheels and dark-tinted windows, said Downey police Lt. Phil Rego.
As the two vehicles neared Woodruff Avenue, a passenger in the Honda fired a round that hit the Pacheco in the torso, said Rego.
His wife and two sons, ages 3 and 4, were in the van but were unharmed.
Pacheco managed to stop the van on the side of the freeway and got out before he collapsed, Rego said. He later died at a hospital.
Anyone with information about the fatal shooting was asked to call Downey police at (562) 904-2308.

NORWALK -- Officials arrested two men, a woman and a teenage boy Wednesday when a good Samaritan reportedly followed them after an alleged purse-snatching.
Cindy Hernandez, 18, Steven Gonzalez, 19, Gustavo Gonzalez, 18, and a 16-year-old boy were booked on suspicion of robbery, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. John Gannon said.
All four suspects are from Compton, he added.
The incident occurred about 7 p.m. in the 12400 block of Imperial Highway, officials said.
The juvenile allegedly grabbed the purse from a 57-year-old woman and Hernandez is suspected of being the getaway driver, Gannon said. Steven Gonzalez and Gustavo Gonzalez were allegedly passengers in the car used in the crime.
Moments after the robbery, a witness called Norwalk sheriff's officials to report they were following the suspects, the lieutenant said.
With the help of Downey police, the car was stopped in Downey and the suspects were taken into custody and identified as the robbers by witnesses, Gannon said.
According to court records, the adult suspects are being held in lieu of $50,000 bail and are due for arraignment in Bellflower Superior Court <NO1>Friday<NO>today.