June 1, 2010 - Today, the FBI St. Louis Division launched a digital billboard campaign throughout Missouri to identify its most recent serial bank robber. The “Grandad Bandit” may have robbed Regions Bank at 5600 Lindbergh Boulevard in St. Louis County last month (05-18-2010) and 20 other banks in the following cities:
01/16/09 Mobile, Alabama
04/10/09 Houston, Texas
04/29/09 Atlanta, Georgia
05/29/09 Roanoke, Virginia
06/22/09 Beaumont, Texas
07/03/09 Little Rock, Arkansas
07/24/09 Dallas, Texas
08/07/09 Wichita, Kansas
08/21/09 Birmingham, Alabama
09/22/09 Syracuse, New York
10/02/09 Atlanta, Georgia
10/16/09 Tallahassee, Florida
12/10/09 Fort Smith, Arkansas
12/11/09 Tulsa, Oklahoma
12/18/09 Marietta, Georgia
01/20/10 Jackson, Mississippi
02/11/10 Knoxville, Tennessee
02/24/10 Huntsville, Alabama
04/02/10 Atlanta, Georgia
04/16/10 Mobile, Alabama
The Grandad Bandit is described as a white male, 50-60 years old, approximately 6’ tall, weighing 210-230 pounds. Typically, he enters the bank, approaches the teller counter, and hands the teller a note demanding money. During a few of the robberies, he has threatened to have a weapon. No one was physically hurt in any of the robberies. The FBI considers him armed and dangerous.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the Grandad Bandit. Crime Stoppers routinely offers a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to a felony arrest. Tips must be submitted to Crime Stoppers for its reward.
Lamar Outdoor Advertising will continuously show the picture of the Grandad Bandit on about two dozen of its digital billboards throughout the state of Missouri. Locations in eastern Missouri include:
• St. Louis (2): I-70 one mile west of Lindbergh (eastbound and westbound)
• Cape Girardeau: 61@Broadway (starting tomorrow at the earliest)
• Hannibal: Highway 61 at Highway 36
• Osage Beach: 5834 Highway 54 (starting June 7)
• Farmington (2): N/S Liberty Street at Black Knight Drive
• S/S Highway 32@Maple Valley
• Quincy, IL: 24th Street and Broadway
Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Zachary Lowe said, “In addition to the publicity through the traditional news media, having access to billboards at major interstates exposes the fugitives that much more. This is a fine example of how the public and private sectors can work together to bring criminals to justice in today’s information age.”
Christopher Kirn, Vice President/General Manager of Lamar Outdoor Advertising in northeast Missouri said, “Police officers get instant alerts through All Points Bulletins (APBs). This is like an APB for drivers on the road.”
The Grandad Bandit has also been featured on digital billboards in 11 other states: Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Kansas, and New York.
Lamar Outdoor Advertising, Clear Channel Outdoor, Adams Outdoor Advertising, and Outdoor Advertising Association of Georgia have all offered billboard space to the FBI as a public service. The FBI National Digital Billboard Initiative was officially launched on 12/24/2007. So far, 35 cases have been solved nationwide as a direct result of tips received from billboard viewers.
America’s Most Wanted also featured the Grandad Bandit on its website in November 2009.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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