FBI Identifies Rexburg Bank Robber as 'AK-47' Bandit; FBI, Idaho Credit Union Offer Rewards Up to $70,000 - East Idaho News
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FBI Identifies Rexburg Bank Robber as ‘AK-47’ Bandit; FBI, Idaho Credit Union Offer Rewards Up to $70,000

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bank robbery rexburg reward offeredREXBURG – The FBI has dubbed a bank robber who forced bank employees and customer into a vault as the “AK-47 Bandit.”

Officials made the announcement Thursday the male who robbed the East Idaho Credit Union in Rexburg shot in a police officer in a previous bank robbery in California.

On Feb. 29, the California Bank and Trust in Chino, Calif., was robbed by an adult male armed with an AK-47. The police officer came upon the robbery when he was seriously injured from a gunshot wound.

The FBI is warning citizens the man dubbed the AK-47 bandit is armed and considered extremely dangerous.

The male is believed to be the same man who robbed the Rexburg credit union on Wednesday. After “cleaning out” the tellers, he forced employees and customers in a bank vault however a safety mechanism prevented it from locking.

The suspect robbed the East Idaho Credit Union located at 412 Grand Loop at approximately 4:30 p.m.

The suspect was able to get away with an undisclosed amount of money and drove off in a dark blue sedan with tinted windows and a red and blue license plate. He was last seen heading south on South Yellowstone Highway.

The subject is described as a male about 5’10” tall and weighing between 220-230 pounds. He wore a mask, black gloves, a black coat with a hood and baggy Levi jeans during the robbery.

The suspect is also believed to be connected to the March 12 robbery of the Bank of the West in Vacaville, Cali. He may also have been involved in an attempted robbery three days prior on March 9 of the Tri Counties Bank in Sacramento, Calif.

On July 6, 2012, a similar style take-over robbery occurred at the Chase Bank in North Bend, Wash.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who committed these bank robberies.

Additionally, East Idaho Credit Union is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual who robbed the credit union in Rexburg.

Anyone with information can contact the FBI Salt Lake City Division at (801) 579-1400 in Salt Lake City, Utah or e-mail tips to SaltLakeCity@ic.fbi.gov.

rexburg credit union robbed    bank employees forced in vault

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