BREAKING NEWS

'Lunch Break Bandit' trail of Phoenix-area bank robberies grows

Chris Coppola
The Republic | azcentral.com
'Lunch Break Bandit'

The FBI is searching for a serial bank robber dubbed the "Lunch Break Bandit," who has held up nine Phoenix-area banks since February, officials said.

The FBI earlier this year sent out a bulletin searching for the man after four robberies between Feb. 21 and April 13.

The robber is dubbed the "Lunch Break Bandit'' because most of the robberies happened during the noon hour, though more recent robberies have occurred around 10 a.m. All but one were at banks located inside grocery stores.

Now, the robber is wanted in connection with nine bank robberies. The most recent one was on Oct. 12 around 10 a.m., at the Wells Fargo Bank inside the Safeway Grocery store at Val Vista Drive and Elliot Road in Gilbert. The first occurred Feb. 21  at 12:30 p.m., at US Bank inside Safeway at 12320 North 83rd Ave. in Peoria. Two others have occurred in Peoria.

Three others have occurred in Phoenix, two in Mesa and another in Litchfield Park. Three of them happened in August alone, according to the FBI.

'Lunch Break Bandit'

The FBI has released several surveillance photos of the robber, including one that shows him pointing what appears to be a handgun in a recent incident. He wears a baseball cap and sunglasses in each photo.

The suspect has given tellers demand notes and shown a gun in the robberies, the FBI said.

The FBI is asking anyone with information to call their Phoenix Field Office at 623-466-1999 or submit tips online. Tips also may be submitted via Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377).