Snowbird bandit identified as 70 year-old retired LAPD detective and Rancho Santa Margarita resident Randolph Adair

Snowbird bandit identified as 70 year-old retired LAPD detective and Rancho Santa Margarita resident Randolph Adair

Posted by CotoBlogzz

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif. –  On Wednesday, July 22, 2015, Orange County Bank Robbery Apprehension Team (BRAT) investigators arrested Randolph Bruce Adair, 70, Rancho Santa Margarita and retired LAPD detective,  in connection with a series of robberies over that last several months in the south Orange County area, according to Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) Lt. Jeffrey Hallock.  

Bank Robbery Apprehension Team (BRAT): is  a federal task force that collaborates with law enforcement in cities where suspects rob banks and is made up of FBI agents and investigators from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

On Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at approximately 12:30 p.m., several family members of Adair contacted Sheriff’s deputies in the city of Rancho Santa Margarita.  The family indicated they had seen recent media reports about the “Snowbird Bandit” and had information about the suspect.  BRAT investigators were contacted and with the assistance and cooperation of family members, Adair was taken into custody in a nearby Rancho Santa Margarita parking lot.

Based on the follow up investigation, evidence was collected connecting Adair to the five recent bank robberies in south Orange County:

§  7/21/15 – First Citizens Bank, Rancho Santa Margarita

§  7/06/15 – U.S. Bank, Ladera Ranch 

§  6/11/15 – Wells Fargo Bank, Mission Viejo

§  5/22/15 – First Citizens Bank, Rancho Santa Margarita

§  3/20/15 – California Bank & Trust, Dana Point

Adair was arrested for robbery and an outstanding warrant and booked into Orange County Jail.  He is being held on $205K bail; however, investigators intend on pursuing federal charges against Adair.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s at (714) 647-7000 or the BRAT investigators at (949) 939-8699.  Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.