FBI Offers Reward in the Case of the “Cotton Ball Bandit”

Marin’s alleged serial bank robber now has a bounty held over his cotton-covered head.

The FBI San Francisco Division is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the “Cotton Ball Bandit,” suspected of robbing seven North Bay banks since December 2012.

Accused of grabbing cash from seven different North Bay banks, the suspect’s latest bank robbery was on Sept. 4 in San Rafael. The serial bank bandit enters a bank, approaches a teller and presents a demand note, and is known for wearing a brown, knit, winter beanie with earflaps and a “cotton ball” on the top.

The FBI and local law enforcement agencies believe the “Cotton Ball Bandit” is connected to the following bank robberies:

• A Dec. 12, 2012 robbery of the Chase Bank at Corte Madera Town Center.
• A Jan. 9 robbery at Union Bank on Sir Francis Drake Boulevardin Greenbrae.
• An attempted bank robbery on Jan. 22 at Union Bank in the Strawberry Village shopping center.
• July 17, 2013 at Chase Bank at 437 Corte Madera Town Center
• An Aug. 2 robbery of the Citibank in the Strawberry Village shopping center.
• Aug. 21 at the Wells Fargo Bank in the Corte Madera Town Center

Witnesses have described the “Cotton Ball Bandit” as a 40-50 year old, medium build, blond, white male, approximately six-foot tall. He is reported to have a scruffy face and along with his brown knit beanie has worn a black rain coat, black leather gloves and eye glasses.

The FBI asks anyone with information to contact them, and can be reached 24 hours a day at 415-553-7400 in the San Francisco area.

All calls are confidential and tips can be left anonymously. Tips can also be submitted online here.