Masked bandit strikes again

MASKED MAN- On March 26, a man who claimed to be carrying a bomb, left, robbed California Bank and Trust in Encino. Authorities said the same man, right, robbed the Bank of America in Agoura Hills and later the Thousand Oaks Citibank using the same tactics. A masked robber the FBI calls the Dust Mask Bandit threatened employees and customers with what appeared to be a bomb during a July 3 bank heist at Citibank in Thousand Oaks. The bank is at 33 N. Moorpark Road.

At 12:45 p.m. last Thursday, a man wearing a fisherman's hat pulled down to his eyes and a dirty white bandana-type cloth covering his face held a cluster of batteries and wires wrapped in duct tape as he demanded money from two bank employees, Ventura County Sheriff's Department spokesperson Detective Eric Buschow said.

"This is not a joke. This is a robbery. Everybody get down. Get out of the way. I have a bomb. Give me all your cash," the man reportedly said.

After he ordered everyone down to the floor, he used a switchblade knife to intimidate the bank tellers, FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller said.

Eimiller described the incident as a "takeover" bank robbery, unlike the kind in which a note is used and only one teller knows a robbery is going on.

"A takeover bank robbery is very intimidating, very violent," she said.

The Dust Mask Bandit is believed to be responsible for nine bank robberies in Orange, Los Angeles and Ventura counties, Eimiller said.

He reportedly robbed the Bank of America in Agoura Hills last month.

The man is described by witnesses as white, in his 30s, thin build, 5 feet 6 to 5 feet 10 inches tall and about 180 pounds. He had dark hair and was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and dark blue pants.

According to police, the man remained calm as he threatened customers in the T.O. bank with the apparent explosive device.

No one was injured during the incident. The robber left the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash. He was on foot when last seen going toward a hedge near businesses on Hillcrest Road, where he might have had a getaway car waiting for him, Buschow said.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to contact Detective Jon Smith of the sheriff's major crime unit at (805) 494-8216.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. According to police, the call is not recorded and callers may remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers can be reached at (805) 494-TALK (8255).