Help wanted to identify ‘Mustache Bandit’
Las Vegas police are seeking the public's help to identify and stop a serial robber dubbed the "Mustache Bandit" before he robs another sandwich shop or electronics store.
The bandit, a roughly 6-foot, 200-plus-pound man between 35 and 45 years old, has robbed at least nine stores in the southern part of the valley since April. His most recent robbery was Monday.
Las Vegas police would not release more details on the string of robberies, citing an ongoing investigation.
No one has been injured in any of the nine incidents, but robbery detail Lt. Ron Fox said suspects "evolve" as their string of crime grows, and he worries the "Mustache Bandit" could become violent. Plus, he wants to stop the bandit's tally from reaching double digits.
His moniker came from his distinctive facial hair, but Fox said the man shaved after police first called attention to his mustache.
The robber enters each store aggressively, intimidating employees and customers and acting as if he has a weapon. Whether he is armed is unclear, but he instructs the cashier to back away from the register before grabbing a small amount of cash and fleeing.
He generally strikes between 4 and 9:30 p.m., often when there are customers inside.
"I don't think he cares if there are people in the store or not," Fox said, "He's on his own schedule."
In each robbery, he flees in a white pickup, sometimes driven by another male suspect.
Police have posted photo and video of the robber on their website - visuals "so good that I know someone in the community is going to recognize him," Fox said.
Anyone who recognizes the man is asked to call the robbery detail at 702-828-3591 or Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.
Contact reporter Kyle Potter at kpotter@reviewjournal
.com or 702-383-0391.
