Los Alamitos Police arrested a man Monday, April 15, who is suspected by the FBI of being the $5K Bandit. The FBI gave the name to the suspect who allegedly robbed the same Los Alamitos bank branch four times because he reportedly took $5,000 in each of the first three robberies. The arrest took place following a robbery of the Los Alamitos US Bank branch located at 10942 Pine St. Officers were alerted to the robbery at about 9:14 a.m., when an employee of the bank called police and said a man similar in appearance to a knife wielding suspect who had committed three prior robberies at the location returned to commit a fourth heist.
The bank employee told a West Cities Police Communications dispatcher a heavy set male African-American in his 40s, wearing a black baseball hat, black sweatshirt, dark sunglasses, and a surgical mask entered the bank carrying a large knife. The suspect displayed the knife to the teller while demanding money.
According to the Los Alamitos Police Department, the suspect’s clothing was similar to what was worn in prior robberies and it appeared to be the same knife or a similar knife to the one previously used. Immediately following the robbery, the suspect left the bank on foot in an unknown direction. Although there was no vehicle description given to police, an officer monitoring traffic along the Katella corridor between Los Alamitos Boulevard and the 605 freeway spotted a person matching the suspect’s description driving a gray 2009 Dodge Charger at a high rate of speed west on Katella towards the 605 freeway.
When the officer tried to pursue the vehicle, the driver, who was the solo occupant of the car, had already entered the Katella/605 northbound on-ramp.
While navigating the on-ramp, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into an embankment of ice plant. The suspect tried to evade the officer on foot, but the officer caught the suspect as he ran through the ice plant. The officer and suspect engaged in a brief struggle until back up officers arrived and the suspect was safely taken into custody after being Tased by one of the responding officers. The suspect sustained minor abrasions, but was treated at the scene by the Orange County Fire Authority and released to police officials. The officer also sustained minor abrasions, however, he did not require medical attention.
The suspect has been identified as Keith Alonzo Smith Sr., 41, a Long Beach resident according to his California driver’s license. According to the Los Alamitos Police Department, authorities believe Smith has committed similar robberies at the bank branch, using a similar M.O. on June 21, 2011; June 30, 2012; and September 12, 2012. Approximately $5,000 was lost in each of the prior individual robberies.
The loss in this particular incident is unknown; however, officers recovered several bundles of U.S. currency at the arrest scene. The investigators from the FBI’s Orange County Bank Robbery Apprehension Team will be assisting with the investigation. Smith is being charged with armed robbery and was booked at Orange County Jail in Santa Ana. No bank employees were hurt during the crime.
Capt. Bruce McAlpine, of the Los Alamitos Police Department, said his department was certain the suspect was responsible for the Monday morning, April 15 robbery and likely responsible for the three prior robberies at the same U.S. Bank branch dating back to 2011. McAlpline said he did not know why the suspect kept returning to the same branch.
“I can’t get into the mind of a bad guy,” McAlpine said.
McAlpine was happy that officers were able to catch the suspect this time. He was also satisfied that no one was seriously injured. Both the suspect and the officer who ultimately apprehended the suspect suffered minor injuries during the suspect’s failed attempt to evade arrest.