Since January 2021, investigators from the Eureka Police Department, Arcata Police
Department, and the FBI have been conducting a joint investigation into a series of
robberies at local credit unions in Arcata and Eureka. The suspect was dubbed the “Lost
Coast Bandit” by the FBI. Based on an extensive investigation, the Lost Coast Bandit has
been identified as David Lee Moon (age 32 of Eureka).
The following is a summary of all the incidents associated with Moon.
On 03/31/20, an unknown male suspect entered a check cashing business
in the 1100 block of 5 th Street in Eureka. The suspect demanded money
using a note and displayed a possible firearm. The suspect fled with an
undisclosed amount of money.
On 12/18/20 and 01/08/21, an unknown male suspect entered a credit
union located in the 600 block of F Street in Arcata and presented the
teller with demand notes. The suspect fled during both incidents with an
undisclosed amount of money.
On 01/16/21, an unknown male suspect entered a credit union located at
the 3300 block of Broadway in Eureka and presented the teller with a
demand note. The suspect fled with an unknown amount of cash.
On 07/15/21, two unknown male suspects entered a market on the 1600
block of F Street in Eureka while the business was closed by breaking a
front glass door. The suspects fled with undisclosed items stolen from
the store.
On 09/28/21, an unknown male approached the window of a coffee shop
in the 400 block of N Street and demanded money. The suspect fled with
an undisclosed amount of cash.
Based on the evidence gathered during the lengthy investigation, an arrest warrant was
issued for Moon on October 6, 2021. On October 7, 2021, just before noon, Moon
was located near the 2500 block of Fourth Street in Eureka and arrested without incident.
During his arrest, Moon was found to be in possession of Fentanyl packaged for sales. A
separate investigation into the Fentanyl possession is being done by the Eureka Police
Department’s Problem Oriented Policing team (POP).
The Eureka Police Department would like to thank the FBI Laboratory for their
assistance with the evidence in this case as well as the investigators from Arcata Police
and the FBI.