MANASSAS, Va. -- Manassas police say they’ve called in the FBI to help find two serial bank robbers pulling off heists in the area.
There have been seven bank robberies in and around the city since Nov. 12, the latest Friday evening at the TD Bank on Sudley Road, police say.
Manassas police on Monday released surveillance pictures in that case in hopes someone will recognize the robber.
The hold ups began Nov. 12 at the Synergy One Federal Credit Union off Sudley Road in Prince William County and have continued at a pace of about one every two weeks since.
Police say one man is believed responsible for robbing the credit union, along with the United Bank on Liberia Avenue twice and Northwest Federal Credit Union on Liberia Avenue.
In those cases, the robber is white, 20 to 30 years old, 5 feet 7 to 5 feet 8 inches tall and 150 pounds.
The second man is possibly responsible for robbing the Wachovia Bank on Church Street, a BB&T on Centreville Road in Fairfax County and the TD Bank on Friday.
In those cases, the man is described as Middle Eastern, 25 to 35 years old, with a beard, mustache and medium build.
In all of the robberies, the man hands the teller a note demanding money.
The FBI is now taking part in the investigation because authorities are dealing with serial criminals, city police Sgt. Tim Neumann said.
Despite the rash of heists in the Manassas area, the FBI says bank robberies during the third quarter of 2009 were down compared to the same time in 2008. Statistics for the fourth quarter and early this year were not available.
The FBI investigated 1,212 reported bank robberies between April and July last year, compared to 1,378 the year before.
In all, $9.4 million was stolen. The most common day for bank robberies during that time was Friday between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Acts of violence were committed in 5 percent of the incidents, resulting in 26 injuries and 32 people taken hostage. No victims were killed, but five suspected bank robbers were, according to the FBI.
Manassas police are offering a $1,000 cash reward for information leading to arrests in the city’s bank heists. Call 703-330-0330 with tips.
Communities editor Kari Pugh can be reached at 703-878-8056.
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