AK-47 Bandit Is One Scary Bank Robber

By Dennis Romero Thu., Jan. 17 2013 at 9:04 AM

Chino Police Department

The scariest bank robber ever?

The FBI is turning up the heat on the so-called AK-47 Bandit, who has targeted, among other banks in the Western United States, a SoCal California Bank & Trust.

Not only that, but the AK isn't fake.

He pulled the trigger and injured a police officer, feds say:

That take-down happened way back on Feb. 29 at 10:52 in the morning in Chino. But since he's still on the loose and still allegedly robbing banks, the FBI wants to see him urgently.

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In fact the bureau announced yesterday that it will help distribute up $100,000 in reward money for information leading to his capture and conviction.

In that SoCal robbery, authorities say, Mr. AK phoned in an authoritative and phony bomb threat to Chino police as a diversion.

According to the FBI:

Following the robbery, a police officer patrolling the area came upon the bank robbery suspect who was fleeing the bank. The suspect fired upon the officer and seriously wounded him. During and following the robbery, the suspect wore body armor over a dark-colored collared short-sleeved shirt and blue pants, as well as a ski mask covering his face.

Chino Police Department

Since then the bandit has continued a streak that includes a bank heist in Vacaville in March, an attempted robbery in Sacramento the same month, a takeover robbery in North Bend, Washington in July, and a credit union robbery in Rexburg, Idaho in November, the FBI says.

In one robbery he even reportedly aimed his rifle at a crying child.

The suspect is described as a stocky white man in his 30s who has driven a 2009 to 2011 Nissan Maxima.

Maybe know him? Get that cash: 1-855-9-BANDIT.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Tags:

assault weapon, bank robber, Chino, FBI

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abramsrl

Any to what well regulated militia does this man belong?

Cactusforehead

@abramsrl obviously he doesn't care because not only are drum magazines illegal in California, but so is bank robbery. Or in other words, he doesn't deserve constitutional rights.

But I do.

abramsrl

@Cactusforehead Dear Cactusforehead:

How blithely you strip people of their constitutional rights. There are a whole bunch of constitutional rights and people lose them via due process -- which is one of those constitutional rights. Some you cannot lose, like the right to selection your own religion.

Of course, the NRA opposes any data base and back ground checks for everyone, thus making it possible for people whom you believe should have no constitutional rights. If we listen to the NRA, this guy can drive to a gun show and buy ten assault rifles with no back ground check.

Perhaps the only people who should have constitutional rights are those people who actually know what rights are constitutional rights. If that were the law, then you wouldn't have constitutional rights.

abramsrl

@Cactusforehead enjoy your paranoid speculations

Cactusforehead

@abramsrl @Cactusforehead I no longer live in California because the state sucks! I am elsewhere living good and without any problems and I can legally carry a firearm to defend myself. If I was in a bank and let's say this criminal decided to eliminate any witnesses, my chances of survival are pretty good. I'll blithely ask you this, what would you do? The fact is you asked what well regulated militia he belonged to and for all we know, he could have procured this AK47 indirectly from Eric Holder and Operation Fast and Furious. My point was this guy is a criminal and no matter what, he's going to do whatever he needs to do to get the job done. While people are panicking to legally purchase a AR platform thanks to this administration's threats (spending anywhere from $3000-5000 on a semi automatic weapon), a criminal can make a fully automatic AK47 (that is not gas operated and will not jam) for $200 and a shovel. For $800, he can buy a 3D printer and make a AR, glock, etc for $50 and each one would be totally without metal. Imagine what kind of damage someone can do with that! We can speculate all day long but no matter what a criminal will maliciously find ways around a system to get what they want.