Durham authorities investigate series of bank robberies

The most recent robbery was Thursday afternoon at the Research Triangle Park Federal Credit Union, 21 Park Drive, according to the Durham County Sheriff's Office. The suspect handed a teller a note stating that he had a gun and directing the teller to give him money. No weapon was displayed.

After the money was handed over, the suspect left and walked toward N.C. Highway 54, witnesses told deputies.

The suspect is described as a black man, between 55 and 60 years old with a dark complexion and medium build. He weighs about 155 to 165 pounds and was wearing a khaki baseball cap with a gold and green logo on the front and the word "Yonkers" embroidered in green on the side. He also was wearing a navy blue T-shirt with white lettering on the left chest, blue jeans and brown shoes.

The sheriff's office said the same man is a suspect in three other robberies in the past two days. One of those robberies occurred just prior to Thursday afternoon's robbery.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call the Durham County Sheriff's Office at 919-560-880.

Durham police say several banks in the city have also been robbed this week.

The most recent robbery attempt was on Thursday afternoon at the Employees Credit Union, 3810 Ben Franklin Blvd.

Authorities said a man entered the credit union around 1:40 p.m. and handed a teller a note demanding money and implying the use of a weapon, police said. The man fled without getting any money.

The suspect was described as a black man in his 40s or 50s. He was between 5-foot-8 and 6 feet tall with a medium build. He had a scruffy beard and was wearing a green zip-up hooded jacket, blue jeans, sneakers and a white baseball cap.

Authorities are also investigating two bank robberies that occurred earlier this week.

Mechanics and Farmers Bank at 116 Parrish St. was robbed Tuesday afternoon.

A man entered the bank around 4 p.m. and handed a teller a note demanding money. The note threatened the use of a weapon but no weapon was seen, police said.  The man fled with an undisclosed amount of money.

The suspect was described as a black man, between 45 and 65. He was between 5-foot-10 and 6-foot-1 with a medium build and scruffy beard. He was wearing a white baseball cap with a logo on the front, a blue jacket and light blue jeans.

The Wachovia bank, 2821 Chapel Hill Blvd., was robbed on Wednesday, police said. The suspect handed the bank teller a note demanding money. A description of this suspect was not immediately available.

Durham police have not said whether they believe the same suspect committed the robberies in Durham. They have also not said if the robberies were related to the serial bank robbery suspect sought by the sheriff's office.

Anyone with information on any of the Durham cases is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200.

The North Carolina Bankers Associated offers rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of anyone robbing a bank in North Carolina. Anonymous tips can be called in to 1-800-209-2293.