Bank Robbery Near Ballston Metro
(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
(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
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
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 dfortunato@arlingtonva.us.
BB&T Bank Robbed in Clarendon
(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
(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 dfortunato@arlingtonva.us.
BREAKING NEWS — Bank Robbery on Lee Highway
(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
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
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 dfortunato@arlingtonva.us.
Surveillance Photos from Morning Robbery Released
Arlington Police are asking for your help with finding a man who robbed a Ballston bank this morning.
A man entered the Presidential Bank at 901 N. Stuart Street at 10:11am and demanded money from a teller. He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.
The suspect is described as a black male with facial hair, in his late 40’s, 5’6” with a medium build. At the time of the robbery he wore a white short-sleeved polo shirt, light colored pants, a white baseball cap and dark shoes. The suspect also had a light colored towel draped over his shoulder.
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 Gary Skeens at 703-228-4166. Det. Skeens can also be reached by email at gskeen@arlingtonva.us.
BREAKING NEWS: Bank Robbery
Updated at 12:18pm Police are are looking for a man who robbed the BB&T bank at 6120A Arlington Boulevard in Falls Church. The suspect was reportedly seen fleeing the scene on foot wearing a surgical mask. There was a report that he was seen in the area of Upton Hill Regional Park.
This bank was hit earlier this month, also by a man wearing a surgical mask.
Arlington County Police are also on the lookout for the suspect.
BB&T Bank Robbed in Seven Corners
Another BB&T Bank branch has been robbed, this time in Falls Church.
Arlington Police have been told to be on the lookout for a man who robbed the BB&T branch at 6120A Arlington Boulevard, in Seven Corners. The man was wearing a surgical mask at the time of the robbery and implied that he had a weapon, police have been told.
Three BB&T branches have been robbed in Arlington alone so far this year.
More on Monday’s Courthouse Bank Robbery
Police have released more information about yesterday afternoon’s armed robbery of the Wachovia Bank in Courthouse.
The Arlington County Police Department’s Robbery Unit is seeking the public’s help to identify a man who robbed an Arlington bank yesterday afternoon.
The suspect entered the Wachovia/Wells Fargo Bank in the 2000 block of Wilson Boulevard at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Monday, June 20, 2011. He displayed handgun and demanded money. After receiving cash, the suspect fled on foot.
The suspect is described as an African American male in his late 20’s, 5’10” and 160 lbs. At the time of the robbery he wore a black hooded sweatshirt with silver writing on the front, black pants, and a mask over most of his face. The suspect was also carrying a dark colored bag.
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 emailat dfortunato@arlingtonva.us.
The crime was the third bank robbery in Arlington so far this month. The first two occurred at BB&T Bank branches in Clarendon and on Lee Highway. The suspect in those robberies was described by police as a white male in his 50s.
BREAKING NEWS — Bank Robbery in Courthouse
(Updated at 4:50 p.m.) Police responded to an armed robbery at the Wachovia Bank in Courthouse (2026 Wilson Boulevard) this afternoon.
Initial reports suggest that a man armed with a handgun robbed the bank around 3:30 p.m. He fled the scene and has not been located. No one was injured.
This is the third bank robbery reported in Arlington this month.
Bank Robbery on Lee Highway Prompts School Lockdowns
The BB&T Bank at 5515 Lee Highway was robbed around lunchtime today.
The suspect fled the bank on foot, prompting authorities to lock down at least two schools in the area. Parents of Nottingham Elementary and Williamsburg Middle School students received the following message from administrators today.
Today at approximately 12:20 p.m. we were alerted by the Arlington Police about a bank robbery nearby at Lee Highway and Harrison Street. The suspect reportedly left the bank on foot.
As a precaution, the schools “secured the building,” which means all students came indoors from recess, PE or other outside activities. At the same time, we made plans for students to either remain securely in the relocatables or to move into the main building. All exterior doors were locked and classes continued inside. Approximately 30 minutes later, the Police called again to give us the “all clear” and we resumed normal operations.
This is the third reported robbery of a BB&T Bank so far this year. BB&T branches in Rosslyn and Clarendon have been robbed over of the course of the past six months.
Update at 3:55 p.m. — Arlington Public Schools spokesman Frank Bellavia says that the response to the incident did not meet the school system’s definition of a “lock-down,” in which classrooms are locked. Rather, the APS student handbook defines the actions taken today as a “secure the building” response.
Update at 6:55 p.m. — Arlington County Police have issued a press release about the robbery, after the jump. Photos of the suspect are available here.
