Bank robber ‘Hefty Heister’ nabbed in Lake County

Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man known as the “Hefty Heister” last week in Lake County in connection with several recent bank robberies that have occurred in and around the Bay Area since December.

On Feb. 7 at around 8 p.m. deputies learned that Antioch resident Wesley Krohn, 31, was at a house in the town of Glenhaven, sheriff’s officials said.

Krohn was wanted by the FBI for allegedly committing eight recent bank robberies.

Deputies and Clearlake police then responded to the area and observed Krohn leaving the residence in a vehicle.

Authorities followed him and became involved in a high-speed pursuit with Krohn, reaching speeds of 80 miles per hour at times. Deputies then placed a spike strip across the road and were able to successfully deflate the tires on Krohn’s vehicle, according to sheriff’s officials.

Once Krohn’s vehicle came to a stop, Krohn exited and allegedly tossed a handgun from his waistband.

Deputies were able to arrest him on a federal warrant as well as on suspicion of allegations related the pursuit.

The “Hefty Heister’s” series of robberies reportedly began on Dec. 3 at the Exchange Bank located at 6290 Commerce Blvd. in Rohnert Park.

He established a pattern, according to the FBI, which was entering banks and presenting tellers with a demand note that made threats of having a weapon. He did not display a weapon in many of the incidents, although he brandished a semi-automatic pistol on his next outing, according to the FBI.

He allegedly robbed Tri Counties Bank inside a Raley’s in Brentwood at gunpoint.

The Hefty Heister then targeted a Wells Fargo inside a Safeway in Pleasant Hill on Dec. 22 and a US Bank inside a Raley’s in Suisun City on Jan. 9 before returning to Brentwood for another robbery of a US Bank inside a Safeway on Jan. 14.

Krohn then robbed two Lodi and Elk Grove bank locations on Jan. 19.

Before those incidents, he allegedly robbed a bank in the unincorporated Sacramento County town of Walnut Grove on Dec. 31.