LAPD searches for man who stole life savings of 97-year-old woman

Police are searching for a man who withdrew the life savings of a 97-year-old woman using her stolen ATM card, authorities said Wednesday.

The thief, whose image police say is captured on bank security surveillance video stills released by the LAPD, used the card to withdraw $300 to $500 a day from the woman's account between Aug. 16, 2009 and Nov. 30, 2009.

Records show that the man made the withdrawals from 1 to 2 p.m. on those days, alternating between two Bank of America branches: one in the 100 block of Rosecrans Avenue in Gardena and another in the 300 block of East Manchester Boulevard in Inglewood. 

The man is described as black, 25 to 30 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall, and about 170 to 180 pounds.  He was seen driving a silver or gray 2000 to 2003 Mercedes-Benz C230 Coupe.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact Newton Division burglary detectives at (323) 846-6579.  After hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to (877) LAPD-24-7 or anonymously to (800) 222-TIPS (222-8477). Tipsters can also text to phone numbers 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cellphone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompt.

-- Andrew Blankstein

Photo: Suspect. Credit: Los Angeles Police Department

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Comments

[Poker Face]

I would check the poker rooms in Gardena and Hollywood Park. He sounds like he has a gambling habit. If he is making withdrawls every day, he is not a very good player.

[pamela]

Hence the problem with big banks. Why didn't Bof A notice the strange activity on the womens account The headline shoudl read " Police are searching for man who stole from Bank of America = to a woman's life savings." The lady's money was stolen was a victim of them via their flawed system and a thief. They lost the money not her. She needs a lawyer now.

[www.discount-iphone.com]

There are evil minded people every where

[Durf]

My first thought was the same as Pamela's. How can the bank's computer systems not notice something like daily withdrawals of the maximum amount allowed for more than three months? (I'm assuming the woman never noticed the card had gone missing, since reporting it as stolen or lost would have put an end to it right there.)

[Joe_baja]

I hate scum who prey on grandmama. Where's the link to donate to this lady?

[DJ]

Lets organize a Boycott of Bank of America unless they return most of her savings due to their incompetence in not detecting this obvious theft-they should at least contacted her after 1 week to see if anything was wrong based on her age. Reinburse her or Boycott those fools!

[Duped Tax Payer]

Looks like the thief knew the victim thru something.

[clave32]

what a coward and loser..........

[Robert NO longer in LA]

Good old BofA; COMATOSE and USELESS, except when doing the THIEVING for it's own Executive Circle.....

[kooo]

I agree with pamela. In my experience, when Washington Mutual was still around, I used my debit card to purchase some gas at a gas station, went back a few hours later to buy some gas for my brother, and the bank declined and froze my account. When I called the bank, they wanted to verify that I hadn't lost my card or if I was legitimately attempting to use the card at the same location for the same thing within two hours... I guess with BofA though, they don't have this monitoring or they don't care. $300 to $500 ATM withdrawals everyday for 3 months and the bank doesn't freeze the card? This elderly woman is somewhat at fault, but BofA really should help her out since they were also negligent in my opinion.

[sdobson]

Wait, so does this mean if someone illegally accesses my account with a stolen ATM card/PIN that the bank doesn't cover it? I thought banks had to reimburse for situations like that.

[BeautyQueen]

Wow! If he stole that much, averaged at $400 per day for around 105 days, that's about $42,000!

If it had been a string of odd credit card charges, you know BofA would've been all over investigating it. Evidently they're less concerned with protecting their depositor's money than their own.

Surprise, surprise.

[RG]

Typical bank behavior... The bank should have noticed the pattern of withdrawals and notified the woman. On the other hand, the woman should have notified the bank of the loss of her card.
More evidence that our senior citizens are at the mercy of this world...

[jay skee]

I withdrew the maximum one time, after that i had to call the bank so that i could keep using my card! why wouldnt they do the same for this poor lady?..
what a dirt bag!! I agree boycott bofa

[Craig]

Last year B of A froze my card when I tried to withdraw $300 at a Primm casino ATM. They said it was "unusual activity" and the person I spoke with did not know how to unblock it, so I had to use a credit card and pay cash advance fees for weekend cash. They would not reimburse these fees.
So how does this thief get away with daily withdrawals on this poor woman's account without it being "unusual activity" ?And do you think B of A will reimburse her? This is clearly the bank's failure and they do need to make it right.
I have switched banks by the way.

[Trained Observer]

Did anyone else notice the shirt this guy is wearing? He's just trying to "spread the wealth around".