Robber Fires Shots In Bank During Daring Daytime Heist
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
MIAMI SHORES (CBSMiami) - High tech help lead the FBI and police to a man who robbed a bank in Miami Shores on Friday.
The man burst into the TD Bank branch, at 9005 Biscayne Boulevard, around 9:20 a.m. and fired at least one shot into the ceiling to get the attention of the bank employees and customers alike. Security photos show the robber waving the gun in the air, a terrified customer cowering on the floor nearby.
He then demanded money from a cashier. After receiving an undisclosed amount, he ran out of the bank.
No one was hurt during the robbery.
The FBI was reluctant to explain how agents were able to locate the suspected robber within minutes of the heist.
"Investigators right now are going to keep that to themselves, how we located him at this area," FBI agent Mike Leverock said at the scene. "I don't want to give up witnesses or techniques.
Multiple law enforcement sources, however, told CBS4 that an "extremely accurate" GPS device was in the bag containing the money. It led authorities to a house, near NW 109th Street and 3 Avenue, where the suspected bank robber was hiding. He was taken into custody.
In recent years, it has been common knowledge that more and more banks are turning to hidden GPS devices to track robbers. They have helped police in cities across the country quickly catch suspects and recover the cash. Some banks use the GPS devices in tandem with exploding dye packs. The dye helps prove recovered cash came from the bank.
It's not known if a dye pack was also used in Friday's robbery, how much cash was taken, and whether it was recovered.
At least two other people who were in the home tracked by the GPS are being interviewed to see if they had any connection to the robbery.
The Miami Shores PD, Miami Dade PD and the FBI's South Florida Violent Crime Task Force continue their investigation.
