The FBI is looking for information that may lead to the arrest of a man who is believed to have robbed three Northern California banks, including businesses in Butte and Tehama counties.
According to the FBI, the suspect, who has been dubbed the “Bad Breath Bandit,” held up banks in Durham, Los Molinos and Nevada City.
He”s described as a white male about 6 feet tall, weighing 210 to 250 pounds and with dark hair.
The Bad Breath Bandit, who was given the moniker by the FBI because of his use of a disposable paper face mask during the robberies, should be considered armed and dangerous, according to a press release from the bureau.
At 10:24 a.m. Thursday, the armed suspect walked into Tri Counties Bank at 9411 Midway in Durham. He approached a teller and while holding a black handgun, demanded cash. He was given the money, which he placed inside a blue backpack, and then left the bank heading east.
Butte County Sheriff”s Office deputies and detectives conducted a search of the area, but the man was not located.
Prior to Thursday”s robbery, the Bad Breath Bandit is said to have robbed a bank in Los Molinos on Sept. 25 and another in Nevada City on June 17.
In September, the man approached a teller at the Umpqua Bank on Highway 99 and demanded money while holding the gun within a pocket of the backpack. He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash prior to law enforcement”s arrival.
The Bad Breath Bandit is also believed to have robbed the Tri Counties Bank on June 17 in Nevada City, leaving with more than $13,000.
Less than two hours before robbing the Nevada City bank, the suspect entered the Bank of the West at 460 Brunswick Road in Grass Valley, according to the FBI. After a brief interaction with bank employees, the suspect left without incident.
