Fingerprints Lead To Suspect In Largo Bank Robberies

For nearly a year, Largo police have been looking for a man they say robbed three banks wearing rubber gloves and a surgical mask.

When the robberies stopped after Dec. 17, the case went cold, Largo police Lt. Michael Loux said in a statement.

Detectives got an unexpected lead - and a lucky break - on Monday when Michael Sean Silagyi, 32, was arrested on a charge of driving with a suspended license, booked and fingerprinted at Pinellas County Jail.

On Tuesday, detectives matched Silagyi's fingerprints to those found on a note that had been passed to a bank teller, Loux said.

Silagyi told investigators about his involvement in three bank robberies that occurred in Largo in November and December 2007, Loux said.

Silgayi, of 2116 First St. N., Indian Rocks Beach, has been charged with three counts of strong armed robbery. There is a fourth charge pending for a fourth robbery that occurred in the jurisdiction of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Loux said.

Silgayi is being held on $40,000 bail in Pinellas County Jail.

Police say that on Nov. 30, a man entered the Whitney Bank, 14040 Walsingham Road, Largo, wearing a black jacket, a baseball cap, rubber gloves and a surgical mask. The man, who was coughing profusely, implied he had a weapon and passed a note demanding money.

On Dec. 6, the same man entered the Fifth Third bank, 705 8th Ave. S.W., Largo, wearing a similar outfit and again coughing profusely, police say. He gave the teller a note demanding money.

On Dec. 17, the man returned to the same Fifth Third bank, wearing a large blue ski jacket with a hood. The drawstring on the hood was pulled tight, making it difficult to see his face, police said. The man wore rubber gloves and was coughing. He implied he had a weapon and passed the teller a note. After getting an undisclosed amount of cash, the man left the bank on foot.