FBI in Texas said the so-called ‘Sticky Note Bandit,’ accused of robbing banks dressed as a woman, has been arrested. Gaibreal Tariq Bell is expected to face state-level charges
An alleged serial bank robber known as the ‘Sticky Note Bandit’ accused of four separate bank robberies has been arrested, the FBI has said.
The suspect became known for targeting banks in the Houston Texas area in July, leading to officers from the FBI, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Unit (VCU), and Houston Police all working on the case.
The suspect is said to have dressed as a woman for two of the robberies. Bell, authorities say, dressed as a woman with a black wig, sunglasses, green jumper, ballet flats and blue medical mask while carrying a black purse.
The Bureau said Gaiibreal Tariq Bell was arrested on Friday and will now face charges at the state level. On Twitter, FBI Houston wrote: “BREAKING The “Sticky Note Bandit” has been identified and arrested by #FBI agents… Gaiibreal Tariq Bell now faces state charges for four robberies he allegedly perpetrated over a two-week period in July 2023.”
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The suspect earned the nickname when the Hancock Whitney Bank was robbed around 1.30pm on July 5. Officials said Belle, dressed in the outfit, “approached a teller, and handed them a threatening note written on a sticky note which demanded cash.”
The alleged robberies were committed in a two-week period in July. After the Hancock Whitney Bank incident, Bell is alleged to have gone on to rob a Wells Fargo bank in Houston at approximately 12.09am on July 11.
During this incident, the FBI said the “teller walked away from the counter and locked themselves in the back room for safety… The suspect remained in the bank lobby for a short time, then fled the scene on foot without any money. No one was physically hurt during the robbery.”
The third robbery took place at another Wells Fargo bank two days later around 3.30pm. Bell is said to have handed over a sticky note to bank staff on both occasions.
The FBI said: “In this robbery, the suspect entered the bank dressed as a female, approached a teller, and handed them a threatening note written on a sticky note which demanded cash. The robber left the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of money. No one was physically hurt during the robbery.
“The robber is described as a black male, approximately 5’8” tall with a thin to medium build. During the last two robberies he wore a black wig, black sunglasses, a blue medical mask, a green women’s style sweater, black women’s ballet flats, and carried a black purse.”
A Bank of America in Houston then became the fourth robbery as the Bureau offered up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the alleged robber.
