BRIEF: FBI looking for "Smokey the Bandit" bank robber [The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson]

Sept. 01--The FBI is looking for a man who has robbed six banks in the Tucson and Phoenix areas this summer.

The most recent robbery was reported Friday at Commerce Bank of Arizona, 222 W. Esperanza Blvd., according to a FBI news release.

In that robbery, as well as the others, the robber threatened bank tellers with a note and escaped with an undetermined amount of money in a silver, two-door silver Ford pickup truck.

The truck has a rectangular emblem or advertisement on the driver's side door.

The man has also robbed three other banks in Tucson since Aug. 21.

Those banks are: Pima Federal Credit Union, 3730 N. Stone Ave.; Bank of the West, 3775 W. Orange Grove Road; and Commerce Bank, 2285 N. Ina Road.

The robbery spree began in June when the man robbed a Chase Bank in Scottsdale. He also hit a BBVA Compass Bank in Phoenix on Tuesday.

He is described as 45-55 years-old, between 5-feet-8 and 5-feet-11 inches with gray and brown hair, a gray goatee, overly tan skin, rough hands and smells like cigarette smoke.

The FBI has dubbed him "Smokey the Bandit."

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 623-466-1999 or go to www.bandittrackerarizona.com

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