‘Black beard
bandit’ continues to
elude capture

He is one of several serial
bank robbers in Honolulu
who are still at large

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By Rosemarie Bernardo
Star-Bulletin

IN JUNE, A MAN entered the First Hawaiian Bank in Waipahu dressed in military fatigues and wearing a fake beard. Six months later, he walked into the City Bank in Kaneohe wearing a hard hat and the same beard.

The "black beard bandit" has robbed eight banks from June to January, according to the FBI.

"He will be arrested. I have no doubt about it. It's just a matter of when," said Detective Letha DeCaires, coordinator of CrimeStoppers in Honolulu.

Like the black beard bandit, a number of serial bank robbers have yet to be arrested.

"It is an ongoing problem," said FBI spokesman John Gillies.

"We have had serial bank robbers in the past." Cases on career criminals such as the "Leeward Grandpa" and the "Bike Bandit" have remained outstanding.

HONOLULU is on pace with last year's total of 35 bank robberies, which was lower than previous years.

Dozens of calls have been made to CrimeStoppers with tips on the black beard bandit.

One possible explanation as to why the black beard bandit has not been caught is because he can easily blend into Hawaii's diverse culture, said Dr. Dorothy Goldsborough, director of criminology and criminal justice at Chaminade University.

Unless they have massive tattoos or multiple piercings, a nonscruffy individual doesn't stand out in Hawaii, she said. "They fit the general population."

Goldsborough described bank robbers as career criminals who are very well-organized. They are people who probably had a previous record, she added.

Honolulu has a small number of bank robberies compared to other cities of similar size, according to FBI statistics.

LAST YEAR, 272 bank robberies occurred in San Francisco, compared to 35 in Honolulu.

"It's not a major problem for us in Hawaii," said Lt. Paul Amoy of the FBI's Violent Crime Division.

The FBI reported 114 bank robberies In San Diego, 170 in Las Vegas and 148 in Portland, Ore.

One reason a typical criminal robs banks is to support a drug addiction, Amoy said.

In a January 2000 Star-Bulletin story, William Sarcedo Jr., who robbed eight banks between August and September 1999, said addiction to crystal methamphetamine was one factor that made him commit the robbery.

"They are in a desperate situation," Amoy said. "They need something to support their habit."

Stress and failure to provide for his family were other factors Sarcedo stated in district court last January.

Bank robberies happen most during the holiday season and summer months, said FBI agent James Tamura-Wageman. However, federal agents have not determined why these time periods are most popular with bank robbers.

Despite the seasonal hits, the success rate of solving bank robberies nationwide is 90 percent.

IN 2000, half the bank robberies were solved with tips provided to CrimeStoppers.

Bank of Hawaii spokesman Stafford Kiguchi said information regarding the black beard bandit has been placed on the internal Web site for all employees.

The information was provided by CrimeStoppers, FBI and HPD.

The bank has also provided its employees with enhanced training on its standard procedures and practices for dealing with such situations.

"Bank security is an issue we take seriously all year around," Kiguchi said.

Goldsborough said, "Banks are ... supposed to be the most secure environments, and yet they're obviously infiltrated by professional bank robbers." She recommended bank officials hire security guards to request those who walk into a financial institution to remove their caps and sunglasses.

Serial bank robbers still at large The FBI named six bank bandits who remain on the loose: Black Beard Bandit: Out of eight robberies the black beard bandit committed, four occurred on Fridays. >> Jan. 19, 2001: First Hawaiian Bank, Kailua branch at 2:54 p.m. >> Dec. 22, 2000: City Bank, Kaneohe branch at 10 a.m. >> Nov. 27, 2000: City Bank, Waimalu branch at 1:20 p.m. >> Nov. 24, 2000: Bank of Hawaii, Pearl City branch at 2:15 p.m. >> Oct. 31, 2000: American Savings Bank, Waipahu branch at 1:30 p.m. >> Sept. 15, 2000: American Savings Bank, Waipahu branch at 11:30 a.m. >> July 26, 2000: Bank of Hawaii, Waipahu branch at 11:55 a.m. >> June 13, 2000: First Hawaiian Bank, Waipahu branch at 3:45 p.m. Eastside Grandpa: >> April 20, 1999: Territorial Savings & Loan, Ala Moana branch >> May, 13, 1999: American Savings Bank, Waipahu branch >> Sept. 17, 1999: American Savings Bank, Kahala Mall branch >> Nov. 22, 1999: Territorial Savings & Loan, Kaimuki branch Backpack Bandit: >> Dec. 3, 1999: American Savings Bank, Kailua branch >> Dec. 8, 1999: First Hawaiian Bank, Kaneohe branch >> Dec. 13, 1999: Bank of Hawaii, Waipahu branch Leeward Grandpa: >> August 8, 1998: American Savings Bank, Pearl City branch >> Jan. 5, 1999: Bank of Honolulu, Westridge Shopping Center branch Bike Bandit: >> Sept. 29, 1999: American Savings Bank, Kaimuki branch >> Nov. 10, 1999: American Savings Bank, Kailua branch >> Jan. 1, 2000: Hawaii National Bank, Kaimuki branch Sideburn Bandit: >> April 14, 1999: International Savings & Loan, Waipahu branch >> May 11, 1999: Territorial Savings & Loan, Nuuanu branch >> May 21, 1999: International Savings & Loan, Kapahulu branch >> June 4, 1999: American Savings Bank, Kaimuki branch >> June 25, 1999: Territorial Savings & Loan, Kaimuki branch