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Bank robbery detectives are releasing a photo of the man suspected of behind nine bank robberies between Santa Clarita and Santa Barbara since about April

‘Seasoned Bandit’ Serial Bank Robber Arrested

A serial bank robber suspect known as the “Seasoned Bandit” — who has robbed several Santa Clarita Valley banks — was arrested in Ventura Monday night, authorities confirmed.


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James Allen Hayes, 55, was charged for allegedly committing 10 bank robberies and one attempted bank robbery in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara Counties between April 27, 2017 and Sept. 26, 2017, according to an FBI affidavit obtained by KHTS.

The affidavit states the robberies were committed in a similar manner, using a note that requested between $5,000 and $10,000, and in nine of the robberies, claiming to have a gun.

Related: ‘Seasoned Bandit’ Bank Robber Stymied By Wells Fargo Teller

On Sept. 13, investigators received a tip that the suspect depicted in numerous surveillance video images resembled Hayes, whom the tipster noted owned a PT Cruiser.

The tipster provided an address for the suspect in Ventura, noting that Hayes had worked as a security guard, according to officials.

Arrest records show that Hayes was taken into custody by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department around 10:30 p.m. Monday and released to federal custody around 9 a.m. Tuesday.

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‘Seasoned Bandit’ Serial Bank Robber Arrested

14 comments

  1. Can I now shout, “Finally!!” ?

  2. Why was he released?

  3. Yes, an enormous hole in this article: Why was he released only hours after being arrested?

    • He isn’t out on bail. Hayes was a security guard for dial security and he was licensed to carry a firearm. He was also live in manager, after selling the apt complex about a year and a half ago, at a apt complex in downtown Ventura that recently caught on fire and got red tagged. Hayes won the lottery twice in Florida but he was ripped off by his accountant which left him broke and a need to maintain a lifestyle him and his wife were accustomed to. I’ve known him for years and had no idea that he was up to anything as extreme as bank robbery.

      • I meant that he is out on bail currently

      • The wife of Jim Hayes, (maybe x-wife by now) Stephanie Hayes, is a total meth psycho, and says that she has an “alien worm living in her ear that controls her brain.” She lost all of her teeth, to, btw. They were squatting on Hunter Ct. in Ventura, in a garage, the house being owned by an alcoholic former co-worker of Jim from Dial Security who likes wierd gargoyle statues, and has them all over his back yard, and one on his front door.

  4. The FBI set up a license plate reader on 126 and got a hit on a PT cruiser heading west after one of the robberies. Great work…..

  5. He probably had plenty of money to make bail

  6. One bank robbery too many !!!

  7. Maybe he was released because they had the wrong guy. It was a tipster who called in about a similar car. Tipster probably got it wrong.

  8. People aren’t reading the article- He was released to the Feds because bank robbery is a Federal offense! He wasn’t just set free!!

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About Melissa Lampert-Abramovitch

Melissa Lampert-Abramovitch has been writing for KHTS since Feb. 2014. She currently writes “Community Spotlight” and feature stories, and coordinates all aspects of both the”KHTS Adopt a Pet” video feature series and “Top Things to Do in Santa Clarita.” She is the creator of “KHTS Adopt a Pet” and acted as News Editor from 2019-2020, as well as Features Director and Newsroom Manager from 2016-2018. A former Valley Publications Staff Writer, Melissa was a contributor to the Santa Clarita Gazette and Canyon Country Magazine from 2015-2016. She has published feature stories with Pet Me Magazine, The Pet Press, The Signal, COC's Cougar News, and KJAMS Radio.