FBI asks public help in nabbing ‘Mr. Magoo bandit’

An unidentified male bank robber who most recently held up a bank in Thousand Oaks, California, is being sought by the FBI and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, as well as multiple police departments throughout California who are investigating a total of 12 bank robberies now linked to the bandit.

Bank surveillance photographs of the bandit, nicknamed “Mr. Magoo,” had been released to the media previously and a new photo of the most recent bank robbery is now being released.

The bandit is described as a white male with a calm demeanor. During the robberies, the Mr. Magoo Bandit uses a note to demand cash and warns victim tellers that he does not want to receive bank security devices. In some cases, the bandit has even thanked the victim tellers for the cash. Victims have described the bandit as calm, and when seen leaving the bank on foot, does not appear to be nervous or even in a rush. The Mr. Magoo Bandit does not attempt to disguise himself whatsoever.

The “Mr. Magoo Bandit” is further described by witnesses as a white male in his 40s, approximately 200 lbs, with a medium build. He is balding, with short dirty blond hair and wears prescription glasses.

The most recent robbery occurred in Thousand Oaks, California, on Saturday, October 8, not far from a robbery in Camarillo that occurred on September 27. In the time period between the Thousand Oaks and Camarillo robberies, however, the Mr. Magoo Bandit was linked to a bank robbery in the San Francisco area on October 4. Investigators believe he travels long distances throughout California quite frequently, and that someone may recognize him at locations frequented by transients, including at a motel or gas station. Mr. Magoo is also linked to six additional bank robberies in the San Diego area, as well as a total of four in the San Francisco area. Combined with the two in the Los Angeles region, the Mr. Magoo Bandit has now been linked to 12 bank robberies throughout the state.

This investigation is being conducted jointly by the FBI’s San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles Field Offices, as well as multiple local law enforcement partners throughout these regions.

Anyone with information as to the identity or whereabouts of the Mr. Magoo Bandit should contact the FBI 24 hours a day at the below-listed numbers, or by calling 911.

FBI San Francisco: 415-553-7400
FBI Los Angeles: 888-CANT-HIDE (888-226-8443)
FBI San Diego: 858-565-1255