At least three men known to law enforcement as the “Greenhorn Bandits” are being sought in connection with three bank robberies during the past two weeks in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, announced Steven Martinez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles, on behalf of the multiple agencies investigating the robberies; including, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department the Redlands Police Department and the FBI.

Witnesses have described the Greenhorn Bandits as either black or Hispanic males between the ages of 25 to 33, and between five feet, eight inches to six feet tall. The bandits can be seen in bank surveillance photographs wearing bandanas and hooded sweatshirts.

During the three robberies, the bandits were seen using handguns and witnesses described being ordered to get on the ground and put their hands up, while the suspects demanded cash.

An additional suspect was seen driving from one of the banks in what was described as a silver or light-colored Dodge Avenger. In a separate robbery, the suspects were seen leaving in a silver or light-colored Chevy Colorado truck.

The group was nicknamed the Greenhorn Bandits due to fact that witnesses described them as clumsy and inexperienced, which investigators note could add to the potential for violence. The suspects are considered armed and dangerous.

The Greenhorn Bandits are suspected in the following robberies:

5/26/2011 COMMUNITY BANK 200 E. CITRUS AVE REDLANDS

5/23/2011 CAL BANK & TRUST 530 W. BONITA AVE SAN DIMAS

5/16/2011 CAL BANK & TRUST 1200 S. DIAMOND BAR BLVD DIAMOND BAR

Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI or dial 911. In the greater Los Angeles area, the FBI can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 888 CANT HIDE (888 226-8443).

Additional information and photographs of bank robbers currently being sought by the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office can be found by visiting www.labankrobbers.org.

“On June 25, 2010, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) placed your credit union into conservatorship. As a result of this action, your credit union’s assets and operations have been placed in my control as the credit union’s Agent for Conservator.” – http://www.arrowheadcu.org/index.cfm?ArticleID=37

Arrowhead Credit Union Under Conservatorship

Last week federal regulators removed the key officers of the Credit Union, including President Larry Sharp a long time high profile community figure. Undoubtedly the bad economy in the Inland Empire has brought out the warts in many businesses. But Arrowhead Credit Union had long been moving aggressively into other lines of businesses as well. Several years ago, they attempted to start a commercial bank, and then they bought an insurance company, Sawyer Cook, lines of businesses perhaps outside the expertise of a credit union. Credit Unions are owned by depositors, as “members.” While the members do vote on leadership, managers still have a special responsibility to be conservative like mutual life insurance companies.

Arrowhead is the second-largest retail credit union to be taken over by regulators. With $876 million in assets, Arrowhead has 24 branches. Over 60 years old, Arrowhead Credit Union lost over $70 million in 2008 and 2009.

A strong community supporter, even if it is purchased by another credit union, the support in the community will probably not be the same. It has been generous to many community originations. Arrowhead Credit Union is member owned, if it fails completely it will be the member’s money that was really used for the community, not management’s.