FBI Offers $10,000 Reward in Search of Backpack Bandit

The FBI in Honolulu today unveiled an enhanced reward and new developments in the hunt for a serial bank robber dubbed the “Backpack Bandit.”

Bank surveillance photograph from the most recent incident: • November 26, 2010: Bank of Hawaii, 94-661 Kupuohi Street, Waipahu.

A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information leading to the identification and arrest of the suspect responsible for at least four separate bank robberies on Oahu.  The reward is separate from the CrimeStoppers reward of up to $1,000, announced earlier.

The robberies took place over an eight month period beginning in March of 2010.  The incidents occurred on the following dates and locations:

• March 31, 2010: Hawaii Federal Credit Union, 1244 Kaumualii, Honolulu
• May 26, 2010: American Savings Bank, 1851 N. King Street, Honolulu
• September 1, 2010: Bank of Hawaii, 94-661 Kupuohi Street, Waipahu
• November 26, 2010:  Bank of Hawaii, 94-661 Kupuohi Street, Waipahu

In each incident, the suspect approached the bank teller, placed a dark colored backpack on the counter, brandished a black semi-automatic handgun from the backpack, pointed it at the teller, and verbally demanded money.  The Backpack Bandit is considered to be armed and dangerous.

The suspect is described as a man in his 30s, 5-feet 5-inches tall, and weighing 190 pounds.  In three of the robberies, the suspect wore sunglasses resting on top of a dark colored hat.  During three of the incidents, the suspect wore what appeared to be a wig.

The enhanced reward was announced this morning in a joint briefing held by the FBI in Honolulu.  Those in attendance included Daphne Hearn, the Interim Special Agent in Charge at the FBI Honolulu, and Richard Robinson, Commander of the Honolulu Police Department, Criminal Investigation Division.

Tips are being accepted via CrimeStoppers at 808-955-8300.  Tipters can also text the code “CS808” and their tip to CRIMES (274637).

(Posted by Wendy Osher; Supporting Information courtesy FBI)