Bank robber made off with $5K, still at large

The thief who robbed Desert Financial Credit Union in Fry’s Marketplace Aug. 14 walked away with $5,000 in cash according to the Maricopa Police Department report. The FBI Violent Crimes Task Force is now investigating the robbery but has no leads at this time according to FBI spokesperson Brooke Bennett.

The suspect is a white male, whom the FBI says is suspected in 13 bank robberies in the Valley since Dec. 30. According to the police report, he entered the Fry’s Marketplace via the south doors at 10:47 a.m., walked behind the checkout area and handed a note to the teller that read:

“THIS IS A ROBBERY! PLEASE DON’T MAKE IT A MURDER! QUICKLY AND QUIETLY GIVE ME ALL THE MONEY. HURRY! !”

The teller said the suspect appeared to be looking around before he spoke, then told her to give him $5,000 and to hurry. The teller said the suspect was wearing a black ball cap, black t-shirt and maroon, plaid, button-down shirt over the t-shirt. He also was wearing dark sunglasses and white latex gloves.

Once the thief, dubbed the “Back Again Bandit” by the FBI, received the money, he placed it in a yellow envelope and moved toward the Fry’s exit doors. The teller said she never saw a weapon, “but the counter is pretty high, and I could not see the lower half of the man.”

The investigating officer from MPD asked how the teller retrieved the money to give the bandit, and she said she made it look like a cash back transaction, then gave the subject $5,000 in $100 bills. Once the man walked away, the teller notified her manager and 911 was called immediately.

Brennan said the FBI is continuing to seek the public’s help to identify the suspect. Tips can be reported to the FBI 623-466-1999 and tips.fbi.gov.