Magic Valley’s “Bad Hair Bandit” Admits To Bank Robberies

A woman who once lived and worked in Jerome has admitted to robbing 20 banks.  Newly filed court documents say the “Bad Hair Bandit” admitted to almost all of the 21 bank robberies she’s accused of committing throughout the Northwest. Cynthia Van Holland was arrested in California in August.

Federal investigators say she robbed 21 banks while wearing different wigs as disguises.  They say the string of robberies began in December of 2010 at a U.S. Bank in Tacoma, Washington.  Investigators say Van Holland and her husband then hit banks in Spokane and Moses Lake. She was caught in California during a traffic stop after another bank robbery.  Authorities say she had $8,000 dollars in her car at the time, and bystanders took down the make and model of her car as well as partial plate numbers. Van Holland admitted involvement with at least 20 of the robberies. In total, investigators say the couple stole almost $49,000 dollars. Van Holland is charged by the criminal complaint filed in Sacramento, California.  Her first court appearance in U.S. District Court has not yet been set.