FBI searching for man known as ‘Too Tall Bandit’ for bank robberies in NC, SC, TN

ETOWAH, N.C. — A serial bank robber, who the FBI has nicknamed the “Too Tall Bandit,” has struck again at a bank in North Carolina.

The robbery happened on Nov. 27 at the United Community Bank in Etowah.

The FBI believes the robber is connected to at least 16 bank robberies in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

The “Too Tall Bandit” is described as being a 40-year-old man who is between 6 feet and 6 feet, 6 inches tall. He weighs between 210 to 250 pounds, and may have brown eyes. Officials said he speaks with a deep voice and walks with a limp affecting his right leg.

In each robbery, the FBI said the man is disguised with a mask, coat and gloves, and is armed with a black handgun. They said he often will jump over the teller’s counter.

The FBI believes these robberies were committed by the same suspect:

  • Nov. 27, 2009, Volunteer State Bank, 2920 Highway 31 W, White House, TN
  • Nov. 12, 2010, Sumner Bank & Trust, 780 Browns Lane, Gallatin, TN
  • Nov. 09, 2012, SunTrust Bank, 731 Cool Springs Blvd., Franklin, TN
  • March 31, 2014, First Tennessee Bank, 11864 Kingston Pike, Farragut, TN
  • Nov. 24, 2014, Tri-Summit Bank, 156 East Broadway Blvd., Jefferson City, TN
  • Nov. 13, 2015, Home Federal Bank, 3671 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
  • Oct. 27, 2016, Capital Bank, 136 Concord Road, Knoxville, TN
  • Nov. 25, 2016, First Citizens Bank, 104 Edgewood Street, Lyman, SC
  • Nov. 16, 2016, Home Trust Bank, 140 Airport Road, Arden, NC
  • Nov. 17, 2017, BB&T Bank, 263 East Broadway Blvd., Jefferson City, TN
  • Nov. 24, 2017, Citizen’s National Bank, 813 Huckleberry Lane, Knoxville, TN
  • Oct. 26, 2018, BB&T Bank, 818 Church St., N. Concord, NC
  • Dec. 21, 2018, BB&T Bank, 850 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, NC
  • Jan. 04, 2019, SunTrust Bank, 731 Cool Springs Blvd., Franklin, TN
  • Nov. 06, 2020, First Bank, 2 Market St., Brevard, NC
  • Nov. 27, 2020, United Community Bank, 50 United Bank Dr., Etowah, NC

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information that helps identify the suspect. Anyone with information on where this man may be is asked to contact 1-800-225-5324.

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