‘Smurf Bandit’ Guilty In Three Navy FCU Heists

SAN DIEGO – A prison parolee known as the “Smurf Bandit” on Thursday confessed that he robbed three banks, including two Navy FCU branches, and tried rob another Navy branch last spring.

Kevin High, 25, pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery, and could be sentenced to up to 14 years in state prison.

High, dubbed the “Smurf Bandit” by police, admitted involvement in a series of heists between May 13 and May 26 in La Mesa, Liberty Station, Rancho Bernardo and Oceanside, each time using a demand note.

One Navy FCU employee testified that he asked High to remove his hat and sunglasses when he came into the Navy branch in Rancho Bernardo on May 26. High walked by him toward the teller line, when he was asked a second time to remove his hat and glasses. High complied and walked out of the branch, saying he had to go to his car.

An hour later, High robbed a teller at a Navy branch in Oceanside of $2,400, authorities said.

He was arrested June 2 at his San Ysidro home.

 

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