Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Scot Baker Wilcox, 54, of Sandy, faces federal charges for allegedly robbing at least a half-dozen hotels and banks mainly in the south end of Salt Lake County near his home, and always at about the same time. He was charged in December in U.S. District Court under the Hobbs Act, a federal offense for robberies that influence interstate commerce, typically used in racketeering cases.
Starting in October, police from several agencies believe Wilcox robbed several hotels and banks located inside grocery stores. He was dubbed the Bucket List Bandit because of his description, which didn't fit the stereotypical robber: a man about 55 or 60 years old, heavy set with gray hair who wore a polo shirt and khakis during some robberies, ripped jeans in others, and a Nike sweatshirt and a baseball hat.
On Dec. 8, Unified police released surveillance photos of the robber to the media. The next day, detectives received calls from at least five people, "all of whom stated they were certain the suspect is Scot Wilcox," according to a search warrant unsealed in 3rd District Court Thursday.
Those who know Wilcox described him to police as "financially desperate," the warrant states. He "was asked to resign from his current job (on Nov. 17) due to fraudulent information on a car loan."
"Prior to that he could be heard yelling in his office at creditors," according to the warrant.
Wilcox's car was also repossessed on Nov. 17, the warrant states.
When Unified police and the FBI went to Wilcox's house to arrest him, they reported seeing clothing in a garbage bag that matched the clothing worn by the suspect in many of the robberies.
According to the warrant, Wilcox is suspected of committing robberies at:
- Cardwell Gas Station, 8137 S. State, Sandy, on Oct. 2
- Hampton Inn, 10690 Holiday Park Dr., Sandy, on Nov. 4
- Staybridge Suites, 747 Blue Vista Lane, Midvale, on Nov. 9
- Wells Fargo inside Fresh Market, 5632 S. 900 East, Murray, on Nov. 10
- U.S. Bank inside Smith's, 10305 S. 1300 East, Sandy, on Dec. 7
- America First Credit Union inside Harmons, 672 E. 11400 South, Draper, about 15 minutes after the Sandy robbery on Dec. 7
