A Torrance man suspected of robbing more than a dozen Southern California banks has been arrested, the FBI announced this week.
Law enforcement officers arrested Christopher Paul Daniels, 55, on Feb. 27 in the upscale Los Angeles County community of Palos Verdes Estates. He was federally charged the day after his arrest and denied bond.
Daniels remains in federal custody.
The FBI and local police agencies have connected 19 bank robberies or attempted robberies in various cities in Orange and Los Angeles counties since October 2021. The FBI said they believe Daniels can be connected to at least 11 of those crimes.
One of the bank robbery suspects covered his face with a green camouflage neck gaiter to hide his identity during the robberies, prompting agencies to dub the robber the “Green Gaiter Bandit.”
Daniels was arrested in a white Toyota Yaris, which is the same car seen during some of the robberies, according to the FBI.
The court complaint charges Daniels with bank robberies in Mission Viejo, Placentia, and Fullerton in January. Agents and detectives were also investigating what they think are connected robberies or attempted robberies in February in Santa Fe Springs, Downey, Whittier, Gardena, and Bellflower.
“Investigators also believe that seven additional robberies conducted within the past few months were separately committed by a similarly described bandit,” FBI Spokesperson Laura Eimiller said in a release.
Those robberies are under investigation.
At least one more white male suspect is being sought for the remainder of the robberies, according to the FBI.
