Bandaged bandit caught

Update:

When it comes to committing robberies, detectives say Zachary Villa went to the well once too often. The Tamarac man, who was dubbed the “Bandaged Bandit” because of a distinctive arm bandage, was caught twice on surveillance video robbing Walgreens stores. Fort Lauderdale Police caught up to him this week after he robbed a Chevron in that city.

Villa later told Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives he was involved in several robberies throughout Broward County. He used the bandage to conceal a skull tattoo on his right forearm. He said he was a drug addict who spent 26 years in a New York prison on robbery charges.

In addition to the Fort Lauderdale charges, Villa will be charged with six armed robberies in BSO jurisdiction for robberies at Walgreens stores in Tamarac and Oakland Park, the Tamarac Cinema, at two Family Dollar Stores in North Lauderdale and at a Subway restaurant in Tamarac.

Surveillance video shot August 22 and August 26 captured Villa, limping and bandaged, as he threatened clerks and demanded cash in the Walgreens stores.

Any member of the public or other law enforcement agency who believes Villa committed other, similar crimes can contact BSO Robbery Det. Mark Copley at (

Surveillance video in two busy Walgreens stores captured the same limping, bandaged robber threatening clerks and demanding cash as other customers shop nearby. BSO Robbery detectives have released both videos in the hopes that someone recognizes the robber who has a bandage around his right, upper forearm.

The first incident happened at 9:23 p.m. Sunday at a Walgreens on West Commercial Boulevard in Tamarac. The robber approached the checkout counter, waited for a clerk to help another customer and placed a bottle of baby lotion and a plastic grocery bag on the counter. As the clerk scanned the lotion, the man leaned in and told her quietly that he had a gun in the bag. He appeared to be in his 20s or 30s, wore a black T-shirt, black jogging pants and white sneakers with a black skull cap. He also had a slight limp and a bandage on his arm.

The second incident happened around 10 a.m. Thursday at a Walgreens on North Andrews Avenue in Oakland Park. The robber approached the counter with a plastic grocery bag, told the clerk he would kill everyone in the store and demanded money. He wore white sneakers, jeans and a blue button-down shirt. He had a clean-shaven head and a bandage on his arm.

Anyone with information about these robberies should call BSO Robbery Unit detectives at or anonymously report the information to Crime Stoppers of Broward County at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or online at www.browardcrimestoppers.org. Broward Crime Stoppers tips that lead to an arrest can result in a cash reward for the anonymous caller.

Related posts:

1. Armed robbers pistol-whip Pembroke Park shop owner
2. Wanted by Broward Sheriff: Witnesses to Champs Robbery; with video
3. Conceited Crook Catches Himself On Cell Cam
4. Dania Beach bank robber caught by FBI
5. Robbers who shot at North Lauderdale teen caught

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Posted by Andrea Freygang on Aug 29 2010. Filed under Broward County, Crime, Local news, Oakland Park, Tamarac. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry