FBI searching for masked gunman who robbed 2 Ore. banks

PORTLAND, Ore. – The FBI is searching for a dangerous serial bank robber who took over 2 banks at gunpoint in Clackamas, Ore. and Eugene, Ore.

Authorities hope video of the robber, dubbed the “Takeover Bandit”, will help them catch the suspect. They are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to his apprehension and conviction.

In the first robbery Dec. 15, a white man armed with a snub-nosed revolver entered the Home Federal Bank at 25 Division Street in Eugene, where he conducted a violent, takeover-style robbery of the bank and fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money in a garbage bag. Police said he was dressed in rain gear.

On January 26, 2012, authorities said the same suspect entered the Chase Bank at 12400 Southeast Sunnyside Road in Clackamas, Oregon. The suspect forced a bank employee to load his bag with money from all of the tellers while wildly pointing his guns at employees and customers.

“It was a very violent and threatening and traumatic bank robbery that is out of the norm of our normal bank robberies in which people typically pass a note,” said Sgt. James Rhodes with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. “This takeover style of robbery elevates it to an imminent threat to the community.”

In both cases, the suspect fled the scene on a bicycle. Both bicycles were later recovered as evidence.

The suspect is described as a white male, 5-foot-8 to 6-feet tall, with a medium to heavy build.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call the FBI at (503) 224-4181.