FBI creates online profiles of N.C. bank robbers

The site is designed to generate public awareness about the cases, and hopefully help reduce bank robberies across North Carolina.

“Most people would come forward if they were going into their bank, and saw somebody come out with a weapon. They are going to provide whatever information they can,” said Ed Aycock, senior vice president of the North Carolina Bankers Association.

The Internet was recently credited with helping link an armed robbery suspect in Rocky Mount to several other crimes in Nash and Edgecombe counties.

Rocky Mount police Capt. Laura Fahnestock said sharing information online with other jurisdictions is proving to be an effective crime-fighting tool.

“When you look at crimes, you look at what links may occur,” Fahnestock explained. “We do daily crime reports, and we add photographs within those reports. We have subscribers from each of those agencies, so when they see a crime trend within our jurisdiction that matches within their jurisdiction, we automatically share information."

The bankers association said there were 124 bank robberies in the state this year through the month of September. There were 222 bank robberies in 2008.