"Man Hands Bandit" strikes area banks, and a Seinfeld pose

Most bank robbers try to avoid calling attention to themselves, but one of the area's newest serial robbers stops folks in their tracks.

"The 'Man Hands Bandit' literally turns heads," FBI spokeswoman Robbie Burroughs said Thursday after the man was credited with his fourth bank robbery in less than a month.

"Absolutely everyone looks at him when he enters the bank," she said.

The man, who is believed to have robbed four banks since April 13 using the same MO, is in and out of the banks within seconds, Burroughs said. He uses a note to demand cash but does not make threats or display a gun. He then leaves on foot, according to the FBI.

But it's the source of his nickname that makes him somewhat unique. In all four of the robberies, the man wore a woman's wig. And in three of the robberies he tried to disguise himself — unconvincingly — as a woman.

The nickname comes from an episode of the TV comedy series "Seinfeld," in which the title character expresses dismay over the enormous meat-club hands of the otherwise attractive woman he is dating.

Burroughs said "Man Hands" is not the only male robber to dress as a woman during a heist.

"I can remember one or two where they actually did try to look like a woman with a dress and high heels," she said.

This guy, however, has no one fooled.

"Nobody who's seen him thinks he's a woman."

Though the FBI doesn't think bank robberies are a joke, some agents can't help laughing a little, she said, because "he is so goofy-looking."

During the first three robberies — in Poulsbo, Edmonds and North Seattle — the 6-foot-tall, 200-pound robber wore a straight-haired black wig. He wore women's sweats and carried a small silver "disco" purse as well, Burroughs said.

The FBI says he struck again Thursday, but this time surveillance photos show "Man Hands" wearing a black, curly wig, perched slightly askew on his head, and male clothing when he robbed a City Bank branch at 20333 Ballinger Way N.E. in Shoreline around 9:50 a.m.

According to Burroughs, the FBI has received a number of tips regarding the possible identity of "Man Hands." Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 206-622-0460.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com

Information in this article, originally published May 1, 2009, was corrected May 1, 2009. A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the "Man Hands Bandit" robbed a Citibank branch. The Shoreline bank that was robbed was a City Bank branch.