Suspect in Pasadena Bank Heist ID’d by FBI as Prolific ‘Twirly Head Bandit’

A man who carried out a robbery at a Pasadena Citibank branch on Friday was a serial bandit linked to at least five other area banks heists, according to the FBI.

They call him the “Twirly Head Bandit.” He earned the moniker due to a squiggly designs carved into his short hair.

He showed up at Citibank, 161 W. California Ave., about 11:15 a.m. Friday and passed a teller a note demanding money, Pasadena police Lt. William Grisafe said. After obtaining cash, he got into a newer-model Infiniti Q50 and drove off.

Police described the robber as a black man in his mid-20s, wearing a white, long-sleeve T-shirt, dark jeans and sunglasses.

Before the weekend was done, he would carry out two more robberies at banks in Norwalk and Gardena, FBI officials said.

Investigators say the same style-conscious bandit is also responsible for a June 28 robbery at a Chase bank in Monrovia, a June 25 robbery at a Bank of America in Culver City and a failed heist at a Los Angeles Chase branch.

He generally passes a teller a note demanding money, as well as threatening the teller to make “no sudden moves,” according to the FBI.

Anyone with information can reach the FBI’s Los Angeles-area field office at (310) 477-6565. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477, or online at lacrimestoppers.org.