Suspect in "bomb factory" admits robbing three San Diego banks

The 54-year-old man accused in the "bomb factory" case has told authorities that he robbed three banks in San Diego, according to a search warrant affidavit released Wednesday.

George Djura Jakubec, a Serbian emigre and naturalized U.S. citizen, told San Diego County sheriff's deputies during a jailhouse interview that he had robbed Bank of America branches on Nov. 13, 2009; June 25, 2010; and July 17, 2010.

Jakubec is charged with the June and July bank robberies, along with 26 bombmaking charges. He has pleaded not guilty in San Diego County Superior Court and is due back in court Friday.

The affidavit provides no information on Jakubec's motive for his alleged stockpiling of chemicals and other materials needed to build explosives. None of the charges involved the sale or use of explosives.

County officials announced Tuesday night that they plan to burn down the house at Via Scott just outside the Escondido city limits that Jakubec was renting. A controlled burn is the only safe way to destroy the explosives, Sheriff Bill Gore told several hundred attendees at a town-hall style meeting this week.

The fire is set for next week, but could be delayed due to weather conditions. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to sign a state of emergency declaration to give the county additional legal authority to seize and destroy the one-story stucco home.

After the June 25 robbery, witnesses told the FBI that the robber placed the money inside a green ammunition box. The robber was described as about 60 years old, between 5 foot 8 and 5 foot 10, and 160 to 175 pounds.

Jakubec, an unemployed software consultant who was on probation on a burglary conviction, remains in jail in lieu of $5-million bail. His estranged wife has said he is mentally unstable.

Along with the bombmaking materials, authorities found handguns, masks and wigs in the house. Computers, written documents and surveillance cameras were also seized; authorities hope they may provide a clue to Jakubec's motives.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Photo: Surveillance of a bank robber at a Bank of America branch in San Diego on June 25, a crime that accused bombmaker George Jakubec says he committed. Credit: FBI

Comments

[james]

Geezer bandit??

[Vet1]

"His estranged wife has said he is mentally unstable."
Got to be mentally unstable to wear a hat like that.

[thecanimalshusband]

Nice hat but the glasses prove he must be mentally unstable.

[Sophie]

So he admits robbing banks, and then he pleads not guilty? To making bombs?

[TheBigPicture]

One day you're just sitting around tinkering with bombs in your garage and the next you're sitting in jail, never to see the light of day...

You just never know...

[Shane777]

this is nuts.????? ok if the house is so bad that thay cant go back in then how do they know iny thing at all what about under the
floors what if ther is a secert room under the house. or worce. ok maybe this guy get arrested so he is
safely behined the walls in jail... what if there something have yet to find. i think the fbi should
take over this investgatoin and tent this house and take it down to the dirt and tare the foundation
befor thay go liteing fires where Bombs lay. of course we the people may not be getting all the info

[Anon]

And what happens if there are people held in some secret location within the house itself, and the burning goes through without a complete investigation?