Half Moon Bay Man is 'Bad Beard Bandit' Bank Robbery Suspect, FBI Says

A Half Moon Bay man is suspected of carrying out a series of bank robberies through the Bay Area, FBI officials announced Thursday.

28-year-old Gerardo Orozco Lopez was arrested Thursday in connection to a total of eight bank robberies in California following an "extensive" multi-agency investigation, according to FBI Spokeswoman Gina Swankie.

Lopez was dubbed the "bad beard bandit" because of the dark, poor quality costume beard he allegedly wore in the hold-ups, according to Swankie.  He was featured on the FBI's "wanted bank robber website," for robbing eight Northern California banks over a four month period.

"While a weapon was not displayed, the suspect threatened that he had a weapon, which heightened concern for the safety of bank personnel and patrons," Swankie said of the crimes.

The FBI believes Lopez is responsible for the following bank robberies: 

• November 21, 2013 Bank of the West, 411 W. Main St., Ripon
• November 26, 2013 Chase Bank, 123 Spreckels Ave., Manteca
• December 3, 2013 Chase Bank, 691 W. 11th St., Tracy
• December 4, 2013 Chase Bank, 4520 Dublin Blvd., Dublin
• December 10, 2013 Citibank, 395 W El Camino Real, Sunnyvale
• December 18, 2013 Chase Bank, 5142 Stevens Creek Boulevard, San Jose
• February 5, 2014 Citibank, 2000 Geer Road, Turlock
• February 25, 2014, Citibank, 1995 41st Avenue, Capitola