'Explosive Threat Bandit' Charged in Bank Robberies

A federal grand jury has indicted the so-called “Explosive Threat Bandit,” suspected in a string of robberies in Southern California, including Marina del Rey, Venice and Santa Monica, the FBI announced Saturday. 

William Joseph Allen, 32, was charged on eight counts of robbery and attempted robbery. Detectives in Santa Monica used forensic evidence from a March 29 bank heist to identify him.

During bank robberies, Allen allegedly dropped off packages of electronic components and wiring as he told tellers that someone outside the bank would detonate the bomb if his flight was interrupted. On other occasions, he would brandish a gun and demand cash, handing notes such as “the establishment will not exist,” if the teller did not comply.

The bombs were fake.

Authorities apprehended Allen on April 17 in downtown Los Angeles. He was indicted Tuesday and is being held in federal custody awaiting trial. 

The string of eight bank robberies and attempted bank robberies began Nov. 15 at a Bank of America in West Covina and ended at a Wells Fargo in Santa Monica on March 29.

During some of the robberies, the suspect would indicate or state that he had a bomb. The device and associated threats required various Los Angeles County bomb squads to respond to banks in order to render the situation safe—and each process that lasted several hours and required a lot of manpower, the FBI said.

Allen is being charged with the following bank robberies:

• Nov. 15, 2011 Bank of America at 2901 Eastland in West Covina
• Jan. 4, 2012 Wells Fargo Bank at 10789 West Pico in Los Angeles 
• Jan. 4, 2012 Chase Bank at 11285 National in Los Angeles 
• Nov. 28, 2011 Bank of America at 8655 Beverly in Los Angeles 
• Jan. 17, 2012 Bank of America at 2930 Sepulveda in Los Angeles 
• Jan. 17, 2012 Chase Bank at 1415 Lincoln in Venice 
• March 23, 2012 Comerica Bank at 4040 Lincoln in Marina del Rey 
• March 29, 2012 Wells Fargo at 1300 Fourth Street in Santa Monica

— City News Service contributed to this report.