Police Search for Bank Robbery Suspect

Update, 6:36 p.m.: Montgomery County Police and detectives from the FBI are searching for a suspect in the Friday robbery of a whom they believe is also connected to 12 other bank robberies in the greater D.C. area.

Officers were called to the scene of the bank at 11501 Georgia Ave. at about 12:13 p.m. The suspect entered the bank with a gun and announced his intention to rob the bank, police said in a statement. The teller complied with the suspect’s demands and gave the suspect an undisclosed amount of cash.

The suspect left the bank and was last seen walking down Georgia Avenue toward Blueridge Avenue, according to Montgomery County Police. No one was injured in the incident.

The suspect is described as a black male, between 6 feet and 6-foot-2, with a medium to dark complexion and weighing between 180 to 200 pounds.

Including Friday's Wheaton robbery, Montgomery County detectives believe the suspect has committed nine armed bank robberies in the county since July 2, 2010. They also believe the suspect is responsible for two bank robberies in Alexandria, one in Falls Church and one in Arlington.

The 13 bank robberies believed to have been committed by this suspect are as follows:

• July 2, 2010, Sovereign Bank, 17920 Georgia Avenue, Olney, approximately 12:27 p.m.
• Sept. 1, 2010, Sovereign Bank, 17920 Georgia Avenue, Olney, approximately 3:10 p.m.
• Oct. 14, 2010, M&T Bank, 11161 New Hampshire Avenue, White Oak, approximately 2:33 p.m.
• Oct. 30, 2010 – Wachovia Bank, 16810 Georgia Avenue, Olney, approximately 10:21 a.m.
• Nov. 16, 2010 – M&T Bank, 11161 New Hampshire Avenue, White Oak, approximately 11:16 a.m.
• Dec. 14, 2010, BB&T Bank, 2947 S. Glebe Road, Arlington, approximately 2:15 p.m.
• Dec. 20, 2010, Bank of America, 600 North Washington Street, Alexandria, approximately 2:45 p.m.
• Dec. 27, 2010, PNC Bank, 1700 Diagonal Road, Alexandria, approximately 2:15 p.m.
• Aug. 4, 2011, SunTrust Bank, 603 W. Broad Street, Falls Church, Virginia, approximately 10:06 a.m.
• Sept. 2, 2011, BB&T Bank, 11501 Georgia Avenue, Wheaton, approximately 12:13 p.m.

Anyone with information about the bank robberies and/or the suspect is asked to call 240-773-5100. Those who wish to remain anonymous should call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or at 240-773-TIPS (8477). Anonymous tips can also be provided by typing “MCPD” plus the tip on a cell phone or PDA and texting it to 274637 (CRIMES).

Crime Solvers has increased the cash reward from $1,000 to $2,500 for information that leads to the arrest and/or indictment of the person responsible for these bank robberies.

Original post, 2:35 p.m.: Montgomery County Police said the BB&T Bank on Georgia Avenue in Wheaton was robbed today.

Police received a call reporting the robbery at 12:13 p.m., said Rebecca Innocenti, a police spokeswoman.

The bank is located at 11501 Georgia Ave.

Innocenti could not immediately provide information on whether police had suspects in the case, or on whether it was an armed robbery. She said more details would be forthcoming.

Police do not specify amounts of money stolen in bank robberies.