Police: Bank robber is same in two incidents
Prince William County police said Monday that the man caught on tape robbing a 24-year-old female teller of cash in the bank, located at 2030 Old Bridge Road, is the same person who knocked over the Manassas Patriot Bank earlier this month.
The thief, a 25-to-35-year-old black man, 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds with black hair, brown eyes, a high-pitched voice and an unknown tattoo on his left arm, entered Virginia Commerce around 11:30 a.m. with a bag, said Detective Dennis Mangan, a spokesman for county police.
The man told the teller he had a bomb in the bag, demanded cash, and took off with the money, leaving the bag behind, Mangan said.
“This is the same threat [the robber] made in the previous robbery … at the Patriot Bank,” Mangan said of the institution at 9166 Mathis Ave., that was robbed shortly after 9:30 a.m. on May 6. “We believe it’s the same person.”
FBI agents and Virginia State Police later checked the bag and found no explosives, Mangan said.
Virginia Commerce Bank security officer Glenn Cummings said that the bank, which has been robbed in the past, was due to close in half an hour when the thief struck.
“It’s always unfortunate when a bank is robbed,” said Cummings, who would not comment further.
The suspect wore blue jeans, a yellow T-shirt with “RL” on the front, a black bandanna and Timberland boots, Mangan added.
Police ask that anyone with information call Crime Solvers at (703) 670-3700. Callers do not have to give their names or testify in court and may receive a reward of up to $1,000 for information that results in an arrest.