PT Cruiser Bandit still at large

A Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy assists a crime lab technician at the scene of a bank robbery in Valencia on Aug. 10, 2017. Austin Dave/The Signal
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Although FBI agents have yet to officially name a serial bank robbing suspect who has hit four local banks since June, the unofficially-named PT Cruiser Bandit is making a name for himself as he remains elusive.

A man wearing a fedora robbed the California Credit Union on Magic Mountain Parkway shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday, the same time of day as two of three other SCV banks robbed since June.

Although a PT Cruiser has figured into each of the robberies, the name for the suspected bank robber could easily be the Quitting Time Bandit, since the robber in all but one of the holdups has struck at 5 p.m.

Surveillance photo captured by Chase Bank branch on Lyons of suspect on July 26.

“We have not officially named this suspect,” FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller told The Signal.

“The FBI did respond to the bank robbery in Santa Clarita last night and is working with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

“The man who went into the bank (Thursday) night was described as an older white male wearing a Fedora. He passed a note demanding cash and threatened a weapon – none seen,” Eimiller said.

“As we always do, we are investigating whether this robbery may be linked to any others,” she said.

Thursday’s bank robber was described as wearing tan-colored shorts, a Hawaiian shirt and a fedora.

Deputies thought they had their suspect at the Mobile gas station on Via Princessa at Sierra Highway when they detailed a man wearing a Hawaiian shirt who matched the description of the suspect.

The man was later released and not arrested.

Financial institutions believed robbed by the PT Cruiser Bandit include:

– Monday June 12: Shortly before 3 p.m., a lone male walked into the bank branch of Wells Fargo near the intersection of Lyons Avenue and Wiley Canyon Road. He gave a note to a teller demanding money and indicating he had a gun, although no gun was seen.

– Tuesday June 27: A couple of minutes before 5 p.m., a lone male walked into the Chase Bank branch on Lyons Avenue at Apple Street. He gave a note to a teller demanding money and indicating he had a gun, although no gun was seen.

photo of June 12 bank robbery suspect released by FBI.

– Tuesday July 25: About 5:15 p.m., a lone male entered the Logix Valencia Promenade bank branch on McBean Parkway near Magic Mountain Parkway. He gave a note to a teller demanding money and indicating he had a gun, although no gun was seen.

– Thursday Aug. 10: A couple of minutes after 5 p.m., a lone male walked into the California Credit Union on Magic Mountain Parkway. He gave a note to a teller demanding money and indicating he had a gun, although no gun was seen.

In each of the last three holdups, a PT Cruiser was spotted at the scene.

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