Full Notification

Detectives Seek the Public’s Assistance in Identifying the “Midnight Bandit” Suspected of 58 Robberies in the Southern California Area

On Monday, June 3, 2013 Sheriff’s Major Crimes Detectives, held a press conference to seek the public’s assistance in identifying a robbery suspect nicknamed the “Midnight Bandit.” He has targeted gas stations and convenience stores throughout the southland for over a year. He typically approaches lone gas station clerks in the middle of the night usually between 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., while armed with a handgun and steals the money from the gas station register. The Suspect is described as a male black, 25-30 years old, 5’7 to 5’9 and 180-200 pounds.

The suspect has allegedly robbed a total of 58 gas stations between April, 2012 to May 22, 2013. He has been known to commit approximately six robberies per month across numerous southland jurisdictions, including Anaheim, Bell, Buena Park, Burbank, Culver City, Garden Grove, Glendale, Huntington Park, La Palma, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Monterey Park, Newport Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, South Gate and Torrance.

Although information about this robbery series was released in 2012, Detectives are now releasing additional photographs and information recently obtained, in order to identify this suspect. On March 14, 2013, the suspect was captured on video, both before and after an armed robbery, driving a silver gray, 2000-2004, Jaguar S Type, four door sedan. This robbery occurred in the 3800 block of Florence Avenue, in the city of Bell at 9:30 a.m. in the morning. This incident was one of the few robberies that the suspect committed in the daylight hours.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau is conducting a joint investigation with 18 other southland law enforcement agencies, from Newport Beach to Pasadena; from Torrance to Burbank. Each law enforcement agency is involved because the suspect has victimized businesses in their cities on at least one occasion. has reached a total of more than 58 robberies.

Detectives are asking the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect from the newly released photographs and videos of him and his vehicle. The suspect is armed with a handgun and should be considered very dangerous. Individuals with information can contact Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau at 562-946-7893 or if you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

Prepared by:
Public Information Officer Nicole Nishida
(323) 810-1973
@lasdnicole
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
323-267-4800
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Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department