Crime Date: March 6, 2013
Crime: Bank Robbery
Agency: Grand Prairie TX Police Department
On December 31, 2012 an unknown subject began a series of bank robberies in Dallas, TX. Over the next six months, he terrorized financial institutions throughout surrounding communities. Police worked hard to identify him; however their efforts were thwarted by a black, tight-fitting, mesh mask he wore over his face to conceal his identity from well-placed bank surveillance cameras. Not long after the series began, authorities dubbed him – ‘The Mesh Masked Bandit’.
On March 6, 2013, in Grand Prairie, TX, police received their first break. A customer witnessed the subject loitering outside the Grand Bank of Texas. The witness watched as the suspect pulled his mask on prior to entering the bank to commit another robbery. Luckily, this same witness caught a glimpse of the subject’s face. The witness was later able to meet with an investigator to create the above composite image which received widespread attention.
Tips began pouring in as the robberies continued. Shortly after the suspect’s 19th robbery, Luis Delagarza was identified as ‘The Mesh Masked Bandit’. He was arrested by local F.B.I. agents and charged with bank robbery.