Sheriff's Department Releases Video of Serial Bank Robber

Goleta - April 23rd, 2009

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department is releasing surveillance video of a suspected serial bank robber who struck in Goleta last month.

At approximately 11:40am on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 a man walked into the Montecito Bank and Trust on the 56-hundred block of Calle Real and demanded money from the teller. The teller gave the man an undisclosed amount of cash before the suspect fled the business on foot in a northbound direction.

Detectives are now releasing surveillance video which shows the suspect as he enters the bank and then demands money from the teller. The suspect is a white male, approximately 6 feet tall, wearing a light colored long sleeve buttoned shirt, dark gloves, sunglasses and a blue baseball cap,

The Federal Bureau of Investigations believes the suspect, dubbed the “Chimney Sweep Bandit” for the black dirt on his face during some of the robberies, is the same person who robbed the following banks:

2/27/09: Rabobank in Goleta
3/10/09:  Citibank in Tustin
3/18/09:  Bank of America in Santa Barbara
3/25/09:  Montecito Bank & Trust in Goleta
3/30/09:  Citibank in Orange

If anyone has information regarding the suspect or the crime they are urged to contact SBSO Detectives at (805) 681-4150 or the Sheriff’s Anonymous Tip Line at 681-4171

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For more information regarding news related issues
please contact Drew Sugars, Public Information Officer.

Business Hours: (805) 681-4100
EMAIL:pio@sbsheriff.org