The man suspected of being the well-dressed “Dapper Bandit” in multiple armed bank robberies — including a heist in Point Loma on Dec. 27 — appeared less-than-dapper during his arraignment Jan. 5. Sporting large facial and neck tattoos and heavily-inked arms, John Richard Martinez appeared in court dressed in a green jail jumpsuit to hear the charges against him. Martinez, 41, bore large script tattoos with the words “Shattered Dreams” on his neck. The number 23 was stenciled under his right eye and a gang logo was seen above his right eyebrow. “The suspect discussed wearing makeup to cover up the tattoos on his face,” according to Deputy District Attorney Melissa Vasel. “The turtleneck was worn [during the alleged bank robberies] to cover up the neck tattoos.” A designer hat Martinez reportedly wore at the US Bank branch at 2150 Chatsworth Blvd. in late December was intentionally worn at an angle so the gang tattoo could not be seen by witnesses or security cameras, according to Vasel. Prosecutors allege Martinez — as the so-called “Dapper Bandit” — stole roughly $1,000 from the Point Loma bank. Martinez is also charged with taking about $1,000 from a Mira Mesa check-cashing store on Dec. 20. Martinez, of Tijuana, was arrested Dec. 31 when he tried to enter the U.S. from Mexico inside the same blue car that investigators linked to the robberies, Vasel said. Martinez’s girlfriend was the registered owner, but she is not believed to have been involved in the thefts, according to Vasel. “Inside the car were both outfits he was wearing during the two robberies in San Diego,” Vasel said. The robber was dubbed the “Dapper Bandit” because of his wardrobe during bank robberies not only in Point Loma but also in Tulare and Fresno. Vasel said Martinez, has not yet been charged with the armed bank robberies in the latter locations. According to Vasel, the “Dapper Bandit” punched someone in the face during one of the other holdups, causing a broken eye socket. Vasel told San Diego Superior Court Judge David Szumowski last week that Martinez represented an “extremely high risk” of fleeing the country. As a result, Szumowski set bail at $500,000 in the case. Martinez pleaded not guilty to both charges. According to prosecutors, Martinez was convicted of robbery in 1992.








