FBI: Serial Bank Robber Strikes Again
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FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - A hoodie wearing man wanted for bank robberies in Plantation and Tamarac has struck again, according to the FBI.
On Tuesday, March 31st, the masked man robbed the SunTrust Bank branch at 1890 N. University Drive in Coral Springs.
He followed the same pattern with this robbery as he's done in the past, according to the FBI.
Click here to watch Ted Scouten's report.
"He has adopted a robbery uniform as a way to disguise himself, said Dr. Harley Stock who is a forensic psychologist who worked with FBI Profilers.
He walked into the bank around 10 a.m., went up to a teller and demanded cash. An undisclosed amount of cash was handed over and the man left.
There were customers in the bank at the time of the robbery but no one was hurt.
The same man is believed to have robbed the TD Bank branch located at 1800 North Pine Island Boulevard on January 7th and February 14th.
He's also suspected in the robbery of a Chase Bank branch located at 6001 North University Drive on March 27th and another TD Bank branch in Tamarac on March 16th.
Tuesday's bank robbery wasn't the only one in Broward.
Just before 11 a.m. a man wearing a hat robbed the Chase Bank branch located at 10175 Pines Boulevard in Pembroke Pines.
But Harley pointed out he made a mistake.
In January, cameras caught a glimpse of his face as he walked into a Plantation bank. A month later video shows him uncovered again, this time leaving that same bank that he robbed for a second time.
"What's going to probably get him caught is that he is not nearly as smart as he thinks he is," said Dr. Stock "and because he's locked into routine. He doesn't understand that while there are surveillance cameras inside the bank, there's also surveillance cameras outside the bank."
That's a huge break for FBI agents who are on the hunt for him.
What sets this robber apart, though, is something very dangerous,he's armed.
"What's unusual about this robber is that he is using a weapon," Stock pointed out. "Very few bank robbers use a weapon. They use threats, but very few use weapons."
And this is not the only serial robber seen recently in South Florida.
A poncho-wearing robber hit five times since May in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. He also flashed a gun which put him in the same dangerous category. It has many keeping their eyes open at the bank.
"You're very aware of your surroundings," points out banking customer Helen Quinoy, "and who, unfortunately, you look at how people look and whether or not like they're just normal bank customer, like waiting to go to the ATM or waiting to go into the bank where as before you didn't' even think about that."
Anyone who can identity the man is urged to call FBI at (754) 703-2000 or Crime Stoppers (954) 43-TIPS.
