Video: 'Opportunistic Bandit' Wanted For Robberies, Carjackings

Police hope security video released Tuesday will lead them to a man who committed five carjackings and about a dozen strong-arm robberies and other crimes recently in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Glendale and Pasadena.

The suspect, dubbed the "Opportunistic Bandit," is black, about 25-35 years of age, 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 180-250 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

The man has simulated having a firearm but has not displayed one. Some of the victims have suffered minor injuries in the crimes but detectives are concerned the violence could escalate, said Capt. William Hayes of the Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery-Homicide Division.

The man generally approaches his victims, many of them women, after they obtained money at ATMs at banks or convenience stores, said Hayes.

On April 15, a female victim was items into the trunk of her vehicle on Glendale Avenue when the suspect allegedly approached from behind and opened her passenger side door, reached inside and removed her purse, according to Glendale Police. 

The victim yelled for the suspect to stop but he yelled back, walked to his Mercedes SUV and drove off. This Mercedes was a reported stolen vehicle and was later recovered, Glendale Police officials said. 

Hours prior, the same suspect allegedly grabbed a woman standing next to her vehicle on Colorado Boulevard and held a gun to her chest, demanded her belongings. He allegedly stole her necklace, watch and purse from inside her vehicle. The suspect then fled on foot. 

Two of the vehicles taken by the suspect are still being sought. They are:

-- a silver 2000 Mercedes-Benz S500, license number 6BUF553, which was carjacked at 1:30 p.m. April 20 in the 7800 block of Sunset Boulevard;

-- a gray 2006 Toyota SUV, license number 5TRV609, carjacked from a 76- year-old woman at 10:15 a.m. April 26 in the 5200 block of Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood. He also took the woman's purse.

Authorities circulated security video of a carjacking that occurred about 8:45 p.m. April 15 at a gas station in the 1700 block of Highland Avenue.

"A lone female victim conducted a business transaction ... (and) while inside the location, the suspect walked up to her and attempted a casual conversation," police said in a statement. "The victim left the business and entered her car."

The suspect followed her to the car, got in on the passenger's side, struck her, forced her out of her vehicle, and drove off with it, also taking her purse, police said.

Other victims have identified him from the security video as the man who accosted them, Hayes said.

He also has committed street robberies, burglaries from motor vehicles, and vandalism. Twelve of the crimes occurred in Los Angeles, and the remaining ones occurred in the other cities. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, the crimes he is wanted for include:

• Street Robbery at 16600 Ventura Blvd. in Encino
• Car Jacking at 5200 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood
• Burglary at 5100 Laurel Canyon Blvd. in Valley Village
• Vandalism at 12200 Ventura Blvd. in Studio City
• Burglary from motor vehicle at 3000 Westwood Blvd. in West L.A.
• Street Robbery at 2900 Sepulveda Blvd. in Palms
• Theft at 5200 Century Blvd. in Century City
• Vandalism at 3200 Cahuenga Blvd. in Studio City
• Theft from motor vehicle at 2400 Lincoln Blvd. in Santa Monica
• Car Jacking at 7800 Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles
• Car Jacking at 1700 Highland Ave. in Hollywood
• Street Robbery at 14000 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks

Anyone with information about these crimes or has knowledge on the suspect identity is urged to the Glendale Police Department Robbery-Homicide Division at (818) 548-3987 or the LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division at (213) 486-6840. Tips can also be made anonymously at Glendale Crime Stoppers (800) 222-8477.