Font Size

Advertising

Colorado & Denver News

E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

FBI Raises Stakes In 'Hopping Hooded Bandits' Hunt

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

Recipient E-mail:*
- Your Name:*
- Your E-mail:*
Add a Message:
Send me a copy of this e-mail.

Type the characters in this picture:*

Click here to refresh with new letters

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

Print Share + Comments

Dec 17, 2009 8:26 pm US/Mountain

FBI Raises Stakes In 'Hopping Hooded Bandits' Hunt

Reporting
Valerie Castro

DENVER (CBS4) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: A surveillance image from the robbery of the US Bank in Aurora on Dec. 15, 2009.
CBS

Close

numSlides of totalImages

Related Slideshows

: December Denver-Area Bank Robberies

: Colorado Mug Shots

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is growing more concerned about a group of bank thieves they are referring to as the "Hopping Hooded Bandits."

The FBI told CBS4 on Thursday they are increasing the reward they are offering for information that leads to an arrest of the criminals. The reward money now stands at $25,000.

Authorities say the "Hopping Hooded Bandits" are responsible for three Denver-area bank heists this month, with one on Tuesday. In that case four men wearing dark hooded sweatshirts stormed a US Bank in Aurora.

In each case the bandits have hopped over counters demanding cash and carrying guns.

FBI spokesman Dave Joly said the urgency to catch the criminals is growing.

"We're concerned that because of the violence in their particular crime that this is going to escalate even further and we're worried about public safety and people getting injured during the commission of a crime," he said on Thursday.

"Large hooded jackets, oversized jackets with masks. Their faces are covered, hands are covered and they're jumping the counters and going directly to the money behind the teller counter," said Joly.

The FBI says they have seen about 40 more bank robberies this year compared to last year. They say some of the blame for the recent crimes is the holiday season and the bad economy. They hope the crimes will start to slow down once the holidays are over.

Authorities say banks should be vigilant and in same cases hire extra security. They say tellers should pay particular attention to who's coming and going.

Curious & Controversial News

Add Comment

here. here. Need a log in? Register here

Your Name
Your E-Mail * Will not be displayed with comment
Suggest Link * e.g. (http://www.mywebsite.com)
Your Comment

Type the characters in this picture:*

Click here to refresh with new letters

Show Comments (0)

Close Window Login

Password:

Forgot Password | Register Here

Close Window Flag Comment

You are flagging the following comment:

Username:
E-mail:
Reason:

Type the characters in this picture:*

Click here to refresh with new letters

You need the latest Flash player to view video content.
Click here to download.

Click here to bypass this detection if you already have the latest Flash Player.