The FBI is teaming with local law enforcement in an effort to identify a man suspected of robbing three banks in the Lake Tahoe and Grass Valley areas during the past three months.

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 40 - 50 years old, with gray or salt-and-pepper gray hair. He is 5'9" to 6' tall and has a slim build.

As part of his disguise he wears a fedora-type hat and a fake goatee leading authorities to nickname him the “Fake-Bearded Fedora Bandit.” In each of the robberies he displayed a handgun and used a black, eco-friendly-type bag commonly found at many supermarkets for his loot. The bag has straps and unidentified green writing on it.

The spree started late last year in Grass Valley with a December 22 robbery of the Bank of the West, 736 Turnersville Road, and continued with the February 18 robbery of the Bank of the West, 2160 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe. He is also wanted in connection with Monday’s robbery of the Bank of the West, 200 Bear Street in Kings Beach.

In all of the robberies, the suspect approached the teller counter and made verbal demands for money. In at least one of the robberies, he made an attempt to disguise his voice by speaking with clenched teeth.

Witness descriptions and surveillance photos indicate the suspect also wore a light colored parka/rain jacket with a hood that has dark colored trim near the zipper and hood, a light colored mock turtle-neck shirt, black pants, black shoes and black sunglasses. In two of the robberies he wore black gloves.

These robberies are being investigated by the Grass Valley Police Department, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, the Placer County Sheriff’s Department, and the FBI.

Surveillance photographs are below, and anyone with information regarding this robbery is asked to contact the FBI in Sacramento at (916) 481-9110. If you wish to remain anonymous, you may call the Placer County Crime Stoppers hot line at 1-800-923-8191. Any tip leading to the arrest of any suspects in this case is eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00.

NOTICE - All Rights Reserved Except as Stipulated Below. PHOTOS MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM. Our reporters and journalists break or report stories and their sources and information are protected by the doctrine of free press as expressed in the First Ammendment, Reporters Privilege Statues, and also the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.This article if a feature or opinion piece is the opinion of the author or reports the news and opinions of others and is NOT INTENDED TO OFFER ADVICE. FOR OPINION STORIES: This story/article/ feature may be an opinion piece — and should be treated accordingly — or reporting on the opinions of others, and should never be considered as a sole source of information or as a suggestion, instruction or prescription. FOR CRIME STORIES: always read the word "allegedly" in any story mentioning "suspects" or "persons of interest". FOR BUSINESSS AND MONEY STORIES: For money/ trade and exchange stories, this magazine and its writers accept no responsibility for accuracy — always check with other sources for important decisions. FOR HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE STORIES: In the case of food/health stories, these facts have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Information stated here should be NOT be considered as medical, health, psychological or behavior advice. All information in this story and on this site is provided for educational or entertainment purposes ONLY. Always seek the advice of experts, including doctors for medical opinions. Only a licensed medical doctor can offer medical advice. FOR EXPERT, ADVICE OR HOW-TO STORIES: Legal advice or other expert advice is best referred to experts in their respective fields. NO RESPONSIBILITY: The publishers and editors, authors, researchers, employees, heirs and assigns accept no responsibility whatsoever for any advice, facts, opinions in this story, nor for resulting actions of readers of this information. ALL READERS ACCEPT THAT THIS INFORMATION IS PRESENTED ONLY AS NEWS, EDUCATION, ENTERTAINMENT OR OPINION/INFORMATION AND AGREE IN READING THIS STORY OR THIS SITE THAT USE OF THIS INFORMATION IS SOLELY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE READER. Copyright by the byline author unless otherwise indicated. EXCERPTS from other magazines or media sources are posted under fair use doctrine, on the basis of no more than 5-10% of content with links and credit to source for the complete story. These are posted in the interest of providing interesting links (description as excerpt) with navigation to the source. Likewise, we encourage our many subscribers to excerpt with credit and links to our e-zines, up to 10% of content. To use more content than 10%, please contact the e-zine for permission. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED except as stipulated herein. IMPORTANT: this web content also includes a forum and comments function, which allows for posting from users not employed by this publication. We accept no responsibility for posts, content, language or accuracy of posts from outside parties but will attempt to correct any inaccuracies reported within the context of free speach. Where possible, spam, lewd or obscene comments WILL BE REMOVED.

Persona Corp. and Blogertize publishes several webzines, magazines, e-zines for news, entertainment and information, but cautions readers to read the NOTICE above:

• Films and Books