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Tampa Police Release Photo Of Serial Bank Bandit

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By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 26, 2008

Updated: 09/26/2008 11:36 am

Surveillance image

TAMPA - Police released photos this morning of a déjà vu bank bandit – a bearded man they say has worn the same clothes while robbing three branches of the Fifth Third Bank since June.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the man's arrest. The FBI and Tampa described the man as black with a medium complexion, a full beard and wire-rimmed prescription glasses. He appears to be in his 30s, 6 feet tall and weighs roughly 220 pounds.

For each heist, his outfits have been the same: a T-shirt and jeans, a bandanna around his neck, brown construction-style boots, a gray leather ball cap and latex gloves.

The bandit robbed the Fifth Third Bank branch at 3117 W. Columbus Drive at 9:05 a.m. June 28. He struck at 1901 W. Swann Ave. on Aug. 2 and at 1097 W. Swann Ave. on Sept. 20.

In each robbery, he handed a teller a note and implied he had a gun. No one has been injured.

Investigators think he knows the banking industry because his requests are specific.

Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-8477 or police at (813) 231-6130. People also can leave tips at the Tampa Police Department's MySpace page.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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