SANTA MONICA—The Santa Monica Police Department, in collaboration with the FBI, have arrested the “Rolled Sleeves Bandit,” a suspect linked to seven bank robberies since November 2014, on January 29, 2015.

The Rolled Sleeves Bandit, whose real name is Damian Loren Newhart, was given the nickname because his shirt sleeves were rolled up in the initial robberies.

The FBI reported, “During the robberies, the suspect pretends to be a signatory on what he says is his girlfriend’s account and then proceeds to ask the victim teller to verify information. Once the teller appears to be distracted, the suspect presents a note demanding cash, verbally demands cash in various denominations, and announces that he has a gun.”

The Rolled Sleeves Bandit is currently linked to the following robberies:

  • November 14, 2014: OneWest 1100 Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa
  • December 6, 2014: Citibank 20981 Magnolia St., Huntington Beach
  • December 22, 2014: Citibank 2710 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach
  • January 14, 2015: Citibank 1505 Montana Ave., Santa Monica
  • January 26, 2015: OneWest 1630 Montana Ave., Santa Monica
  • January 28, 2015: Bank of the West 19006 Brookhurst Street, Huntington Beach
  • January 28, 2015: U.S. Bank 19900 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach

Newhart, 38, of Newport Beach, was taken into custody in Inglewood, California, Thursday evening by officers with the Santa Monica Police Department who were acting on a tip developed through the joint investigation. Following news coverage of the alleged Rolled Sleeves Bandit, investigators received multiple tips with information leading to the Bandit’s arrest.

Ari Dekofsky, a spokeswoman for the FBI explained the FBI’s role in the investigation to Canyon News: “Because it’s both state and federal, we work it jointly. The FBI works closely with state and local law enforcements to investigate and apprehend specific bank robbers.”

Newhart will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.