Hypnotist Bandit May Be Linked to Third San Gabriel Valley Bank Robbery

A man suspected of holding up two banks today in South El Monte and Temple City may be linked to a third bank robbery that occurred in Pasadena a week ago, authorities contend.

The man has been nicknamed the "Hypnotist Bandit" because he stares at tellers and continues to make eye contact during the robbery officials said. He also passed a note and in at least one of them, he threatened to use a weapon. He took the note each time he left the bank.

The suspect was described as white or Hispanic, 6-foot-2 to 6-foot-4, 190 to 200 pounds and about 30 years old. He has stubble growth and a goatee and a tattoo with a faded red heart with black outline on one hand.

The robbery in Pasadena occurred last Tuesday at Bank of the West at 2500 E. Colorado Blvd.

One of today's robberies occurred at the HSBC Bank at 9601 Las Tunas Drive in Temple City. There was no immediate information on the South El Monte heist.

Anyone with information about the suspect was asked to call the nearest FBI office or 911.

—City News Service