Too Tall Bandit
American unidentified bank robber
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Too Tall Bandit is an unidentified serial bank robber who is thought to be responsible for at least sixteen bank robberies in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee dating back to 2009.[1] His nickname is derived from his height, which is estimated to be between 6'0 and 6'8 (183 – 203 centimeters).[2]
Too Tall Bandit | |
|---|---|
Too Tall Bandit during a robbery | |
| Born | c. 1981 |
| Years active | 2009 – 2020 |
| Height | 6'0 – 6'8 |
Criminal status | At large |
Reward amount | $15,000 |
Wanted by | FBI |
| Wanted since | 2009 |
| Details | |
| Country | United States |
| States | |
Robberies
In every robbery, the bandit was heavily disguised in a mask, coat, and sometimes gloves.[1] He would enter the banks when they were about to close, walk behind or jump over the counter, and threaten the employees with a black handgun, which he held in his right hand.[3] He then demanded that the employees help him put money from the vault or teller drawers into his bag or backpack.[4] He asked the employees to point out bait money and dye packs, two security measures which could be used by law enforcement to track him down. Then, he orders the workers to lie on the floor as he flees the scene.[5]
The perpetrator usually robs banks in rural areas near forests. The bandit has never been seen using a getaway vehicle, so authorities believe he may live near the banks he robs.[6]
In addition to bank robberies, the bandit is also suspected of robbing the Farragut Pharmacy in Farragut, Tennessee, on December 18, 2014. In that case, he stole opioids instead of money.[7]
List of robberies
| Date | State | City | Address | Bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 27, 2009 | Tennessee | White House | 2920 Highway 31 W | Volunteer State Bank |
| November 12, 2010 | Tennessee | Gallatin | 780 Browns Lane | Sumner Bank & Trust |
| November 9, 2012 | Tennessee | Franklin | 731 Cool Springs Blvd. | SunTrust Bank |
| March 31, 2014 | Tennessee | Farragut | 11864 Kingston Pike | First Tennessee Bank |
| November 24, 2014 | Tennessee | Jefferson City | 156 East Broadway Blvd. | Tri-Summit Bank |
| December 18, 2014 | Tennessee | Farragut | Farragut Pharmacy | |
| November 13, 2015 | Tennessee | Pigeon Forge | 3671 Parkway | Home Federal Bank |
| October 27, 2016 | Tennessee | Knoxville | 136 Concord Road | Capital Bank |
| November 16, 2016 | North Carolina | Arden | 140 Airport Road | Home Trust Bank |
| November 25, 2016 | South Carolina | Lyman | 104 Edgewood Street | First Citizens Bank |
| November 17, 2017 | Tennessee | Jefferson City | 263 East Broadway Blvd. | BB&T Bank |
| November 24, 2017 | Tennessee | Knoxville | 813 Huckleberry Lane | Citizen's National Bank |
| October 26, 2018 | North Carolina | Concord | 818 Church Street | BB&T Bank |
| December 21, 2018 | North Carolina | Asheville | 850 Merrimon Avenue | BB&T Bank |
| January 4, 2019 | Tennessee | Franklin | 731 Cool Springs Blvd. | SunTrust Bank |
| November 6, 2020 | North Carolina | Brevard | 2 Market Street | First Bank |
| November 27, 2020 | North Carolina | Etowah | 50 United Bank Drive | United Community Bank |
Appearance
The Too Tall Bandit is believed to be between 6 feet and 6'6 tall by the FBI. However, some witnesses have described him as being as tall as 6'8. He also weighs between 210 and 250 pounds and walks with a limp on his right leg.[8] Additionally, he has a deep voice.[9]
In every robbery, the perpetrator used a disguise to cover his face. Sometimes he used a Halloween-style mask.[10] Other times, he wore a balaclava, which exposed his brown eyes.[11] In many of the robberies, the bandit used gloves. However, sometimes he did not, revealing his seemingly white skin color.[6]