Alleged 'Luger Bandit' Who Hit Up Riverside County Banks Caught in Chino

The suspected Luger Bandit, linked to bank robberies in Riverside County and two other counties, was arrested Thursday following a robbery in Chino.

Ramsin Jonathan Malek, 31, of Pasadena, was arrested and booked at the West Valley Detention Center in Chino for suspicion of armed robbery after allegedly walking into the Chase bank branch at 7033 Schaefer Ave. about 9:15 a.m. and demanding money, according to Chino Public Information Officer Michelle Van Der Linden.

Witness told Chino police officers the robber fled the scene in a gray BMW 328i, later determined to be a 2008 model. Seven minutes after the robbery, police spotted the suspect's car and arrested Malek after a traffic stop, Van Der Linden said. A Luger handgun was allegedly found in his car.

Malek may be linked to six other bank robberies in Riverside, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, according to Van Der Linden. The robber got his nickname because of the weapon he used.

According to the FBI, the "Luger Bandit" has been linked to the following robberies:

1/3/13              Wells Fargo                Granada Hills

2/18/13            Wells Fargo                 Fontana

3/8/13              Wells Fargo                San Dimas (Attempt)

3/12/13            Chase Bank                Mira Loma

6/4/13              Bank of America         Corona

1/8/14              Wells Fargo                Corona

Police declined to release Malek's booking photo because of the ongoing investigations into other bank robberies, Van Der Linden said. He was described a Syrian, about 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighing about 240 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Malek was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail, according to San Bernardino County Jail records. He is scheduled to be arraigned at 7 a.m. Friday in Department NF in Rancho Superior Court.

Anyone with information on this suspect was asked to call the Chino police at (909) 628-1234. All tips can be made anonymously.

– City News Service.