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Serial bank robber suspected in two more cases

Authorities said the man who tried to rob banks in Cary and Zebulon on Friday afternoon appears to be the same man suspected in a string of recent bank robberies in the Triangle.

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RALEIGH, N.C. — A man sought in two bank robberies in Zebulon and Cary Friday afternoon could be the same man suspected in a string of recent bank robberies throughout the Triangle.

The FBI said Friday afternoon that a man attempted to rob a First Citizens Bank, 101 Wakelon St. in Zebulon, around 3:30 p.m.

A few hours later, according to Cary town spokeswoman Susan Moran, a man matching the same description robbed the Wachovia at 1701 N. Harrison Ave., and fled on foot.

In both cases, the suspect had a mustache and stubble on his face and was wearing light-colored fitted jeans, a black Yankees cap, a gray long-sleeved polo shirt or jacket, white sneakers and aviator sunglasses.

"Basically, he was calm, cool and collected," Cary Police Sgt. Rick Glancy said.

No weapons were used and no injuries were reported in either robbery.

Upon taking an undisclosed amount of cash, the man fled the scene on foot.

Authorities said a dark green Jeep Liberty might have also been involved in the Cary robbery.

Within the past two weeks, the FBI says, a man of the same description whom agents have dubbed “the repeat robber” has robbed seven banks in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill:

  • BB&T at 143 E. Rosemary St. in Chapel Hill on Oct. 5
  • SunTrust Bank inside Kroger at 7905 Falls of Neuse Road in Raleigh on Oct. 2
  • SunTrust bank inside Kroger at 8345 Creedmoor Road in Raleigh on Sept. 29
  • SunTrust Bank at 3421 N. Roxboro Road in Durham on Sept. 28
  • Wood Forest Bank inside Walmart at 10500 Glenwood Ave. in Raleigh on Sept. 26
  • SunTrust Bank inside Harris Teeter at 1817 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway in Durham on Sept. 25
  • SunTrust Bank at 1231 University Drive in Durham on Sept. 24

In six of the cases, the suspect used a note to demand money. In none of the robberies have there been reports of a weapon being displayed or anyone getting hurt.

Authorities have previously described the suspect as a black man, 35 to 50 years old, about 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a stocky build and dark complexion.

He has a beard and mustache and often wears sunglasses and a baseball cap during the robberies.

The man is also suspected in another bank robbery in August 2009, the FBI said.

Anyone with information about the hold-ups or the suspected robber is asked to call the FBI in Raleigh at 919-380-4500, Raleigh Crime Stoppers at 919-834-HELP, Durham Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200 or Chapel Hill Crime Stoppers at 919-942-7515.

The North Carolina Bankers Association is offering a reward for information leading to an arrest.

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