The Sheriff's Department wants your help in identifying and locating a man who robbed a bank in Vista this morning (October 15th).
The suspect has been nicknamed the "Bearded Bandit" because of his facial hair.
Today's robbery happened just after 9:00 a.m. at the Chase Bank located in the 1600 block of South Melrose Drive. The suspect walked up to the teller and handed over a demand note, which mentioned he would use a gun if he didn't get money.
The suspect got away with an unknown amount of money. No gun was seen and no one was hurt.
The "Bearded Bandit" is also believed to have robbed a Wells Fargo Bank along Saturn Boulevard in Palm City (near Imperial Beach) on October 7th.
Take a good look at these surveillance photos from both robberies. The suspect wore a long-sleeved, buttoned-down shirt in both incidents. If you see the suspect, don't approach him. He should be considered ARMED AND DANGEROUS.
If you recognize the "Bearded Bandit" or know where he is, call the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.
A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case.
Anonymous email and text messages can be sent in via www.sdcrimestoppers.com.
