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AK-47 bandit strikes again, this time in Mason City

The Heartland Community Credit Union in Mason City, Iowa was robbed around 9:55 a.m. Tuesday, July 28, 2015, according to a statement from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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The bandit was described as a white man, between 20 and 40 years old, standing 5 foot 9 inches to 6 feet tall, with a medium build.

Chino police have connected the thief to hold-ups in California, Washington, Idaho and Nebraska.

He was wearing a black ski mask and gloves. According to authorities, he left the scene in a black or dark colored Toyota Camry LE with no front license plate made between 2007 and 2009. During the robbery, the suspect carried a duffel bag and an assault rifle with a drum magazine similar to the weapon seen in his earlier robberies. In the previous robberies, agents say the suspect left in a dark Nissan Maxima with chrome door handles.

Based on witness descriptions, surveillance photos and other indicators investigators in multiple jurisdictions “believe the Mason City suspect is the same individual linked to the violent series of bank robberies attributed to the ‘AK-47 Bandit, ‘ which brings the total number of linked robberies to seven”, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.

If you think you have located the involved vehicle, do not approach as the suspect is considered armed and risky.

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Anyone with information the incident can contact local police or call CrimeStoppers at 800-383-0088. A reward of up to $100,000 is being offered in exchange for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.

'AK-47 Bandit,' Who Shot Chino Officer in 2012, Linked to Iowa Bank Robbery: FBI