‘Geezer Bandit’ Suspected In Temecula Hold Up

A serial bank robber dubbed the “Geezer Bandit,” who is believed to have held up 10 banks across San Diego County since August, struck a bank in Temecula and was at large today, a sheriff’s sergeant said.

The latest robbery occurred about 1:16 p.m. Thursday at the Bank of America located at 31934 Temecula Parkway when an elderly man, armed with a small handgun, passed a demand note to a teller, according to Sgt. Vance Stolte of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

The man fled with an undisclosed amount of money and no getaway vehicle was seen, Stolte said.

Witnesses described the robber as white, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and about 170 pounds.

It has been widely speculated that the bandit could be wearing a disguise designed to make him look older.

In Thursday’s robbery, he wore a gray blazer, white shirt, white hat, sunglasses and slacks.

He appeared to have a skin disorder, but it may have been a disguise, Stolte said.

The suspect is believed responsible for 10 San Diego-area armed bank robberies. The series of heists began in late August and have taken place in Carmel Valley, La Jolla, the La Playa neighborhood of Point Loma, Rancho Santa Fe, Santee, Vista, Poway and now Temecula.

Authorities asked anyone with information about this incident to contact Investigator Guzman at the Southwest Sheriff’s Station at (951) 696-3000.