Thursday May 20, 2010
Detectives hunting an elderly man over a string of bank raids in the US have criticised a Facebook campaign, saying it is glamourises his crimes

The FBI have appealed for help to identify the 'Geezer Bandit'

The FBI believes the so-called "Geezer Bandit" has robbed at least nine banks around San Diego in California since August last year.

At times he has even been armed with a revolver.

But two Facebook groups cheering him on have now attracted almost 500 fans.


Posts include: "I'm down with the Geez", "I'm a huge fan of the Geezer" and "Git them banks, they had it coming".

The wily Geezer Bandit has become a source of fascination in America since CCTV images of him were shown after his first robbery.

Detectives believe he is aged around 70 and in his last heist at a Bank of America branch in the suburb of Santee, he was seen to have oxygen tubes inserted in his nose.

The FBI has appealed for public help and is frustrated by the Facebook support, which it says is driven by the criminal's grandfatherly appearance.

"Just because he's getting this attention does not mean he is someone that should be idolised or glamourised in any way," a bureau spokesman said.

"We're talking about real victims, real people who are being victimised as part of this bank robbery series."

Although no one has been hurt, the thief has told at least two bank tellers that he is armed and the FBI says he displayed what they called a "revolver pistol" during one raid.

One of the tellers told detectives the robber's hands looked "strange" - which has led them to believe he may in fact be a younger man wearing a sophisticated disguise.

Rewards totaling $16,000 (£10,800) have been offered for information leading to the robber's arrest and conviction.