bank robbery

Police Release Image of Rosslyn Bank Robber

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County Police have released a surveillance image of a man accused of robbing a bank in Rosslyn .

Police say the man walked into the Presidential Bank at 1700 N. Moore Street on Friday afternoon and demanded money from a teller. After receiving the cash, he fled on foot toward the Rosslyn Metro station. Officers arrived within a minute or two; they searched the station and the surrounding area but were unable to find the suspect.

The police department is now asking for the public’s help in identifying the man in the photo.

“The suspect is described as in his mid 20’s, White or Hispanic male, 5’5” to 5’6” with a thin build,” police said in a press release. “At the time of the robbery he wore a black hooded sweatshirt with red and white lettering, tan pants and light colored shoes.”

Anyone who has information about the suspect or the case is asked to call the police department at 703-558-2222 or Det. Gary Skeens at 703-228-4166.

Bank Robbery in Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 2:35 p.m.) A bank robbery has been reported in Rosslyn.

Initial reports suggest a man robbed the Presidential Bank branch at 1700 N. Moore Street, near the Rosslyn Metro station. No weapons were displayed or implied during the robbery, according to police radio traffic.

This is the third reported robbery of Presidential Bank’s two Arlington branches so far this year.

Bank Robbery Near Ballston Metro

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 1:05 p.m.) A bank robbery has been reported in Ballston.

Initial reports suggest a man with a gun held up the Presidential Bank at 901 N. Stuart Street. The bank is less than a block from the Ballston Metro station and a block and a half from Ballston Common Mall.

Police are now looking for the suspect, who fled the bank after the robbery. Per normal police procedure, Arlington County detectives are on the scene and the FBI has been notified.

This is the second reported bank robbery at this particular branch this year. The bank was also robbed in July.

BREAKING NEWS — Arlington PD Arrests Suspected Bank Robber

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 10:20 a.m.) Arlington County Police have arrested a man suspected of robbing up to six banks in Arlington this summer.

D.C. resident Peter Cifala, 57, was arrested on Friday and charged with one count of bank robbery.

“Though the suspect is charged with one robbery at this time, the robbery is believed to be related to a series of five other bank robberies that occurred over the past three months in Arlington County,” police said in a statement.

Authorities say Cifala was nabbed thanks to tips and increasingly detailed surveillance images.

“The pictures got progressively better,” police spokeswoman Det. Crystal Nosal said. “The investigation was greatly assisted by citizens who called the police department with tips, and a tip from the Arlington County Sheriff’s Department”

“We’re happy,” Nosal added. “[The arrest] is going to be reassuring for bank employees and people who go into banks.”

Cifala was apprehended with the help of the Northern Virginia Violent Crimes Task Force, police said. He’s currently being held in the Arlington County Detention Center.

Cifala has a long rap sheet that includes more than 20 criminal convictions in Virginia, including nine separate grand larceny, attempted larceny and petit larceny charges in Arlington between 1991 and 2002.

Update at 1:45 p.m. — We’re told that a sheriff’s deputy in the Arlington County Detention Center’s booking room recognized the most recent surveillance photo of Cifala.

MoCo Serial Bank Robber’s Hit List Includes Arlington

By ARLnow.com

While Arlington police remain on the lookout for our own serial bank robbery suspect, police in Montgomery County, Md. are looking for a serial bank robber who has also hit banks in Arlington and Alexandria.

The suspect, seen here in a surveillance photo, has hit eight banks in Montgomery County, two banks in Alexandria and one bank in Arlington.

The Arlington robbery occurred on Dec. 14, at the BB&T Bank at 2947 S. Glebe Road. The suspect passed a note to a teller implying he had a gun, but no weapon was seen.

The suspect’s most recent reported robbery was on July 21, at a SunTrust Bank in Potomac, Md.

“Detectives are asking anyone with information about the bank robberies and/or the suspect to call the Montgomery County Police – Robbery Section at 240-773-5100,” police said in a press release. “Those who wish to remain anonymous should call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or at 240-773-TIPS (8477).  Crime Solvers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information provided to them that leads to the arrest and/or indictment of the person responsible for these bank robberies.  Anonymous tips can also be provided by typing ‘MCPD’ plus the tip on a cell phone or PDA and texting it to 274637 (CRIMES).”

Clearest Photos Yet of Serial Bank Robbery Suspect

By ARLnow.com

The guy suspected of six separate bank robberies in Arlington this summer might be getting a bit sloppy.

Arlington Police have released new surveillance images of the man, whose face can — for the first time — clearly be seen despite a low-slung cap and a pair of stylish sunglasses resting on the bridge of his nose.

The images were taken during a robbery yesterday afternoon at the BB&T Bank at 3001 N. Washington Boulevard in Clarendon. It’s the second time the man is suspected of robbing that particular branch, and the fourth time he’s suspected of robbing a BB&T location.

Here’s what police had to say about the crime, in a press release.

The Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit is seeking the public’s help to identify a man who robbed an Arlington bank yesterday afternoon. This suspect related to five other bank robberies that have occurred in the past three months in Arlington County.

The suspect entered the BB&T Bank in the 3000 block of Washington Blvd at approximately 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, August 17, 2011. He announced a bank robbery and demanded money. After receiving cash, the suspect fled on foot.

The suspect is described as a white male with brown hair, approximately 50 years old and 5’9” with a thin build. At the time of the robbery he wore a gray t-shirt, khaki pants, brown belt, a light colored hat and sunglasses.

Anyone who has information about this robbery or the identity of the suspect is asked to call the Arlington County Police Department Tip Line at 703 228-4242, or Detective Donald Fortunato at (703) 228-4197. Det. Fortunato can also be reached by email at [email protected].

BB&T Bank Robbed in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 3:35 p.m.) Police are investigating yet another bank robbery in Arlington.

The BB&T Bank branch at 3001 N. Washington Blvd in Clarendon was robbed this afternoon by a man described as an older white male. The suspect fled on foot after the robbery.

The man is thought to be the same serial bank robber who’s suspected in four other bank robberies in Arlington this summer, including a robbery of the same Clarendon BB&T bank branch in June.

This is the eighth bank robbery in Arlington this summer. The last robbery happened on Aug. 9 on Lee Highway.

Update on 8/17/11 — See surveillance images of the suspect here.

UPDATED: Bank Robbery Reported on Lee Highway

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 5:00 p.m.) Police are investigating a robbery at the United Bank at 5335 Lee Highway.

The bank was robbed just before 2:15 this afternoon. The suspect is being described as a 5’9″ white male, possibly of “Hispanic or Middle Eastern background,” about 50 years of age. The suspect implied, but did not display a weapon.

Armed police officers surrounded the bank for a few tense minutes while they awaited word on whether the suspect was still inside the bank. As it turns out, the suspect fled on foot before police arrived on scene.

The bank is located at the corner of Lee Highway and N. Harrison Street, next to a Harris Teeter supermarket and two blocks from a BB&T bank that has been robbed twice this summer. This is the seventh bank robbery in Arlington since the beginning of June.

Arlington Police issued the following statement about the robbery this afternoon.

ARLINGTON, VA. – The Arlington County Police Department’s Robbery Unit is seeking the public’s help to identify a man who robbed an Arlington bank this afternoon.

The suspect entered the United Bank in the 5300 block of Lee Highway at approximately 2:10 p.m. on Tuesday, August 9, 2011. He implied that he had a weapon and demanded money. After receiving cash, the suspect fled on foot.

The suspect is described as a white male, possibly of Hispanic or Middle Eastern background, brown hair, approximately 50 years old and 5’9” with a thin build. At the time of the robbery he wore a dark striped polo shirt, khaki pants, a light colored “driving” hat and sunglasses.

Anyone who has information about this robbery or the identity of the suspect is asked to call the Arlington County Police Department Tip Line at 703 228-4242, or Detective Donald Fortunato at (703) 228-4197. Det. Fortunato can also be reached by email at [email protected].

BREAKING NEWS — Bank Robbery on Lee Highway

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 4:35 p.m.) The BB&T bank at 5515 Lee Highway was robbed this afternoon — the second robbery there so far this summer.

The suspect (seen, left, in a surveillance image from today) is described as a 6-foot-tall white male in his late 50’s. The man, who has graying hair under his baseball cap, walked into the bank and demanded money, according to Arlington Police spokeswoman Det. Crystal Nosal. No weapon was shown or implied.

Police believe he’s the the man who’s suspected of three other bank robberies in Arlington this summer, including a robbery in June at the very same bank and a robbery yesterday in Clarendon.

This is the sixth bank robbery in Arlington and the ninth bank robbery in the Arlington and Falls Church areas since the beginning of June.

Photo courtesy Arlington County Police Department

Bank Robbery Reported in Falls Church

By ARLnow.com

Arlington Police have been told to be on the lookout for a man who just robbed a bank in Falls Church.

The man reportedly robbed the Sun Trust bank at 603 W. Broad Street in Falls Church. According to initial reports, he displayed a large handgun and demanded money, then made a getaway on a red bicycle.

The man is described as a six-foot tall black male — which does not fit the description of the man who robbed a Wachovia bank in Clarendon yesterday morning.

This is the eighth reported bank robbery in the Arlington and Falls Church areas since the beginning of June.

BREAKING NEWS — Bank Robbery in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

A robbery has been reported at the Wachovia Bank at 3140 Washington Boulevard in Clarendon.

Initial reports suggest a suspect implied he had a weapon, then made off with cash. Police are looking for the suspect, who fled on foot. He’s described as an older white male with scruffy facial hair.

This is the fifth bank robbery in Arlington since the beginning of June. There have also been two bank robberies in the neighboring Falls Church area during that time.

Update at 4:10 p.m. — In a press release (which includes surveillance photos), Arlington Police say that the suspect in today’s robbery appears to be the same man responsible for the robbery of two BB&T banks in June.

The Arlington County Police Department’s Robbery Unit is investigating a bank robbery that occurred this morning in the Clarendon area of Arlington County.

On Wednesday, August 3, 2011, at approximately 11:10 am, police responded to the 3100 block of Washington Boulevard for a bank robbery that just occurred. An unknown male entered a Wachovia/Wells Fargo Bank and demanded money from a teller while implying that he was armed with a weapon. The suspect fled the area after receiving cash.

The suspect is described as a white male with facial hair, in his late 50’s, 6’ tall with a medium build. At the time of the robbery he wore a white short-sleeve polo shirt with horizontal stripes, light colored pants and a dark colored baseball cap. This man appears to be the same suspect who robbed two BB&T Banks in Arlington during June 2011.

Anyone who has information about this robbery or the identity of the suspect is asked to call the Arlington County Police Department Tip Line at 703 228-4242, or Detective Donald Fortunato at (703) 228-4197. Det. Fortunato can also be reached by email at [email protected].

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