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FBI offers reward for serial bank robber

Posted at 11:18 PM, Apr 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-06 06:29:05-04

He casually walked into a Capital One Bank in Elkridge Friday, handed the teller a note demanding money, and within seconds was out the door with cash.

Less than an hour earlier investigators think the same man robbed a Sandy Springs Bank in Burtonsville, just 17-miles away.

The pair of crimes are the latest robberies in a six-month crime spree that spans five-counties.  Officials say the suspect started back in October in Mount Airy and worked his way through at least nine banks.      

Now, the FBI is involved.  They've nicknamed the suspect The Bandage Bank Robber because of the disguises he wears during the hold ups.

“One he's wearing a neck brace, some he's wearing a scarf, he's got his arm in a sling in one, the bandages over his nose and mouth in a couple,” said Dave Fitz, FBI Baltimore Public Affairs Specialist.

At every bank it's the same thing, the man conceals part of his face, hands the teller a note, and implies he has a gun.  So far, no one has been hurt.

"We believe that he has a gun,” Fitz said.  “If he says it, we believe him."

But investigators are concerned The Bandage Bank Robber might escalate things as he commits more brazen heists.

"Maybe he's getting more gutsy, that he feels like he can do this and just get away with it,” said Fitz.  “We're gonna catch him, either us or one of our partners, and that's why we need the public’s help."

The FBI believes the man is working alone, and right now it's not clear if the bank robber is nursing real injuries under those bandages and braces.

"One of the bank robberies early in he walked in with a limp, so we don't know if that was a fake limp or he's trying to throw us off,” Fitz said.

The FBI is offering up to a $5,000 reward in this case.  Agents said they believe the man is connected to the following incidents:

October 19, 2015: Carroll County, Capital One Bank, 402 East Ridgeville Boulevard, Mount Airy

November 3, 2015: Carroll County, Susquehanna Bank, 6415 Ridge Road, Eldersburg

 

"Sheriff's Office investigating robbery of Susquehanna Bank "Eldersburg, Carroll County, Maryland; November 3, 2015 ...

Posted by Carroll County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, November 3, 2015

December 3, 2015: Frederick County, PNC Bank, 11717 Old National Pike, New Market

 

SHERIFF’S OFFICE INVESTIGATING PNC BANK ROBBERY IN NEW MARKET The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office is...

Posted by Frederick County Sheriff's Office, MD on Friday, December 4, 2015

 

December 29, 2015: Montgomery County, Suntrust Bank, 3901 National Drive, Burtonsville

December 30, 2015: Harford County, Harford County FCU, 3422 Emmorton Road, Abingdon

January 15, 2016: Howard County, Sandy Spring Bank, 8315 Ice Crystal Drive, Laurel

February 5, 2016: Howard County, Howard Bank, 10985 John Hopkins Road, Scaggsville

April 1, 2016: Montgomery County, Sandy Spring Bank, 3535 Spencerville Road, Burtonsville

April 1, 2016: Howard County, Capital One Bank, 6000 Marshalee Drive, Burtonsville

 

REWARD OFFERED!Howard County police are asking for the public’s help to identify a suspect in the robbery of Capitol One Bank in the 6000 block of Marshalee Drive in Elkridge.A suspect entered the bank at approximately 1:45 p.m., approached an employee, implied a weapon, and demanded money. The employee complied and the suspect fled. No one was injured. The investigation is ongoing.The suspect is described as a black male wearing a blue hoodie, gray sweatpants and glasses. His face was partially covered with bandages; he was wearing a white neck brace.Police are working with Montgomery County detectives who had a bank robbery involving the same suspect at approximately 1:00 p.m. at Sandy Spring Bank in the 3500 block of Spencerville Road in Burtonsville. Howard County police are also looking into two previous bank robberies in Laurel, one on Feb. 5 at Howard Bank and the other on Jan. 15 at Sandy Spring Bank in which the suspect descriptions were similar.Anyone with information should call 410-313-STOP or email hcpdcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov. A reward of up to $1,500 is being offered for information.

Posted by Howard County Police Department on Friday, April 1, 2016

 

Additional rewards being offered:

PNC Bank is offering $5,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.

Montgomery County Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest and/or indictment of the suspect.

If you provide suspect information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the suspect, you may be eligible for a cash reward up to $2,000 from the Harford County Sheriff's Office.

A reward of up to $1,500 is being offered for information in Howard County. 

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