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Raleigh police seek bank robber, overall heists down

The number of bank robberies statewide was down 38 percent through the first six months of this year compared with the first half of 2008, the FBI said Monday.

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Surveillance video from SunTrust bank at Kroger, 7905 Falls of Neuse Road.
RALEIGH, N.C. — The number of bank robberies statewide was down 38 percent through the first six months of this year compared with the first half of 2008, the FBI said Monday.

The decrease was small consolation to Raleigh police, who were looking for a man who robbed a SunTrust bank branch Monday inside the Kroger at 7905 Falls of Neuse Road. The suspect passed a note to the teller at about 12:30 p.m. and implied he had a weapon, said Jim Sughrue, spokesman for the Raleigh Police Department.

The suspect, described as a black man with a mustache, about 6 feet tall, was still at large by late Monday afternoon. Witnesses said he was wearing black jeans, a black-and-white checked shirt, a black baseball cap and sunglasses.

Police released a surveillance image from the bank to help identify the man. Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call Raleigh police at 919-996-3555 or Raleigh Crime Stoppers at 919-834-4357.

The North Carolina Banker's Association offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information in this case. Confidential tips can be called in to 1-800-209-2293.

The FBI and local police departments investigated 77 bank robberies in North Carolina from January through June, down from 124 during the same period a year ago. Authorities said they couldn't cite a reason for the drop, noting many factors contribute to crime levels.

Greensboro had the most hold-ups this year, with 14, followed by Charlotte with seven, Durham with six, Fayetteville and High Point with four each and Raleigh with three.

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