Carlsbad Man Arrested in “Dying Son Bandit” Bank Robbery Investigation

Keith Slotter, Special Agent in Charge of the San Diego FBI Office, announces the arrest of Steven Craig Hart, age 49, of Carlsbad, California, on bank robbery charges. Hart was arrested as a result of a multi-jurisdictional investigation conducted in the “Dying Son Bandit” bank robbery investigation.

Hart was arrested on Saturday, January 21, 2012, at approximately 12:30 a.m. at his Carlsbad residence, without incident. Hart self-surrendered after the Carlsbad Police Department SWAT team surrounded his residence. Hart was called out of his residence, at which time he was taken into custody by Carlsbad police officers, San Diego County sheriff’s deputies, and FBI agents. Hart’s residence was subsequently searched pursuant to a court authorized search warrant. Items of evidence authorized pursuant to the search warrant were seized in support of the ongoing investigation. Investigators credit a recent tip from the public that led to Hart’s arrest.

Hart was subsequently booked into the Vista Detention Center, 325 South Melrose Drive, Vista, California. Hart will remain in custody at the Vista Detention Center pending his arraignment in State Superior Court.

The “Dying Son Bandit” bank robbery series involves seven completed bank robberies and three attempted robberies. Below is a list of robberies in this series. Robberies with an asterisk denote an attempted robbery.

■November 14, 2011 Navy Federal Credit Union, 1824 Marron Road, Carlsbad, CA

■December 16, 2011 California Bank and Trust, 135 Saxony Road, Encinitas, CA
■*December 31, 2011 Citibank, 4120 Oceanside Boulevard, Oceanside, CA
■December 31, 2011 Bank of America, 4150 Oceanside Boulevard, Oceanside, CA
■January 5, 2012 U.S. Bank, 33621 Del Obispo, Dana Point, CA
■*January 5, 2012 Citibank, 23652 El Toro Road, Laguna Hills, CA
■*January 6, 2012 Comerica Bank, 110 South El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA
■January 6, 2012 Citibank, 740 South Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos, CA
■January 13, 2012 Wells Fargo Bank, 10707 Camino Cruz, San Diego, CA
■January 20, 2012 Citibank, 24221 Calle De La Louisa, Laguna Hills, CA

This series was dubbed the “Dying Son Bandit” series because the robber told victim tellers that he had a dying son and needed money for his son. The robber also told the tellers that he was armed with a gun and threatened to shoot them if they did not comply with his demands for money. Investigation to date has determined that references to a dying son are false.

Investigation in this matter involved officers and deputies from the following agencies: Carlsbad Police Department, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Oceanside Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, San Diego Police Department, and FBI agents from the Los Angeles and San Diego Offices.

Anyone with information concerning the “Dying Son Bandit” bank robbery series is asked to contact the FBI at telephone number (858) 565-1255, or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

An arrest is not absolute proof that the defendant committed the crimes charged. The government still has the responsibility to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.