FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – A wigged, bearded man was charged with attempted bank robbery following his arrest outside an Arizona State CU branch last week.
The man called the “Bearded Bandit” by authorities, who has been linked to seven Phoenix-area robberies, was identified as 49-year-old Robert Andersen.
He was stopped by FBI agents, as well as officers from the Flagstaff and Phoenix police departments, as he walked toward the Arizona State branch on North Highway 89 Thursday. Officers found two loaded semi-automatic weapons and a two-way walkie-talkie when they searched him. Andersen had a 9 mm handgun in his waistband loaded with 11 rounds, including one in the chamber. He also had a loaded .22-caliber handgun in a second pair of pants he was wearing underneath.
Andersen matched the same general description provided by tellers and surveillance footage.
After obtaining a warrant on April 17, the FBI started tracking Andersen using his cell phone. Once they found his truck, they attached a GPS tracking device so they could follow him. Historical cell phone data showed that he had been in the area of the robberies.
The FBI tracked the truck through Flagstaff last Wednesday and saw it stop at a Chase Bank branch, Sunwest CU, Coconino CU, another Chase Bank, and another Sunwest CU.
