I think there's a healthy dose of remembering all the times it's been reported how police have railroaded innocent people for the sake of a conviction and closing the case, mixed with seeing this person as a modern-day Robin Hood and not wanting him to be identified. The dude could have been wearing a Beetlejuice suit with a face like Sloth from the Goonies and people would still say "that's not him" because he put on a tiny pink cowboy hat.

This man will be an American folk hero in time. And if that thought seems disgusting, I'll invite you to read up on American history.