Police look for clues to 'Repeat Robber's' identity | ABC11 Raleigh-Durham

wtvd

By ABC11

Thursday, October 21, 2010

RALEIGH

The FBI says it believes the same man is behind 12 bank holdups in the Triangle area, but the last 11 have come in a span of just three weeks.

The latest was Tuesday at the First Citizens Bank on Ridge Road at Wade Avenue.

Raleigh Police spokesman Jim Sughrue said the suspect, an African American man, fled the bank on foot.

A surveillance photo from the bank robbery showed the suspect wearing a striped shirt and tan cap. He also appeared to be wearing women's sunglasses with large lenses. The suspect is described as between 35 and 50-years-old, standing about 5 feet 7 inches tall and having a medium-to-heavy build.

"We've got to put our hands on this person," Raleigh Police Detective Ben Huger said. "We've got to bring it to an end."

Raleigh police admit they don't know if the Repeat Robber has a weapon. They also don't know what he's capable of, and that's why they say their highest priority is to catch him before somebody gets hurt.

"Even though he has not shown a weapon, he has not hopped a counter, the tellers that I'm speaking to - the bank employees are very shaken by what has taken place," Huger said.

By striking more often - and committing the crimes so close together - officers are afraid he could become more brazen in the days ahead.

Longtime forensic psychologist Dr. Michael Teague told ABC11 that - obviously - the person is motivated by the money - whether it's for drugs or for his family. It remains unclear at this point - he explained - what the man might be thinking.

"People just talk themselves into thinking I'm not going to get caught because they're a good guy, a nice guy - all kinds of illogical ideas," Teague explained. "Then there's other types that could be thinking the same thing - [what] we call the psychopathic personality. They are people who just don't respond to consequences as you and I do."

So far, bank employees have all complied with the robber's request for money in the note he hands over to tellers.

Bank employees are encouraged to continue giving him what he wants until he's caught in an effort to keep themselves and the public safe.

All of the Repeat Robber's crimes have been mainly in Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill. Authorities say many have taken place at bank branches in and around busy grocery stores:

· 08/10/2009 -- SunTrust, 7905 Falls of the Neuse Road, Raleigh

· 09/24/2010 -- SunTrust, 1231 University Drive, Durham

· 09/25/2010 -- SunTrust, 1817 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Durham

· 09/26/2010 -- Woodforest National Bank, 10050 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh

· 09/28/2010 -- SunTrust, 3421 Roxboro Road, Durham

· 09/29/2010 -- SunTrust, 8345 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh

· 10/02/2010 -- SunTrust, 7905 Falls of the Neuse Road, Raleigh

· 10/05/2010 -- BB and T, 143 E. Rosemary Street, Chapel Hill

· 10/08/2010 -- First Citizens Bank, 101 Wakelon St, Zebulon

· 10/08/2010 -- Wachovia, 1701 N Harrison, Cary

· 10/14/2010 -- BB and T, 4424 Capital Blvd, Raleigh

· 10/19/10 -- First Citizens Bank, Ridge Road, Raleigh

The FBI is currently working with local police departments to help catch the robber.

Anyone with information that might assist the investigation of the case is asked to call Raleigh CrimeStoppers at (919) 834-HELP or the RPD's Detective Division at (919) 996-3555. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solved cases.