FBI: 5 Valley banks robbed Monday, 2 in less than 1 hour
Reported by:
ABC15.com staff
Last Update: 6/30/2009 11:32 am
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PHOENIX -- The FBI's Bank Robbery Task Force is investigating five bank robberies that took place in a span of less than seven hours on Monday.
The first incident happened shortly before 10 a.m. at the Chase Bank located at 32nd Street and Indian School Road.
Sgt. Charles DeLeon of the Phoenix Police Department said the suspect approached the teller and demanded cash. It is unclear whether or not he had a weapon.
After receiving the undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect fled to a nearby apartment complex, but officers were unable to locate him.
Less than an hour after the first robbery, a second Phoenix bank was robbed.
DeLeon said another suspect robbed the National Bank of Arizona at 40th Street and Camelback Road.
The suspect reportedly told the clerk to give him money, but did not display a weapon, according to DeLeon.
Officers found the suspect of the second robbery at an apartment complex located at 16th Street and Camelback Road, according to DeLeon.
DeLeon said officers found cash and evidence linking this man to the second robbery.
He was arrested at the scene. His name has not been released.
No suspect description has been provided for the suspect involved in the initial robbery.
DeLeon said these first two crimes are not connected.
A bank robbery in Scottsdale led to one arrest and the closure of a Valley freeway.
Officer Dave Pubins with the Scottsdale Police Department said a 50-year-old white male entered the Wells Fargo Bank near the Loop 101 and Mountain View Road.
Pubins said the man left a bag on the counter stating it was an explosive and left with an undisclosed amount of cash.
The bank was evacuated as the bag was evaluated, according to Pubins.
A traffic stop was made on the Loop 101/ Loop 202 interchange after the reported suspect vehicle was spotted on the Loop 101 southbound.
Officer Robert Bailer with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, who is assisting Scottsdale PD, said a suspect was taken into custody.
Richard Murray, a Special Agent with the FBI, said a Chase Bank near 24th Stret and Baseline was robbed at about 3:45 p.m.
Less than an hour later, the Deer Valley Credit Union near Bell Road and I-17 was robbed.
In addition to the five bank robberies, Murray said a bank customer was robbed outside a Wells Fargo near 1st Avenue and Washington.
Investigators are looking into whether any of the incidents may be related.
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