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UPDATE: Bank robber, wanted in 7 states, held up Hanover grocery stores banks

Posted at 11:59 AM, Dec 11, 2012
and last updated 2012-12-11 11:59:11-05

SunTrust Suspect3

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) — Authorities now say the they on the trail of a serial bank robber after a man held up two banks last week in Mechanicsville last week.

The Hanover County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday they think the suspect wanted for at least 12 other bank robberies across seven states.

Officials said those robberies, 11 of which happened at banks inside grocery stores, took place in states ranging from California to Virginia since July.

Additionally, investigations said the suspect used a number of disguises during the hold-ups, including include wigs, beards and sunglasses.

The suspect described as white male, from 20 to 30 years old, 5-feet 8-inches to 6-feet tall with a heavy build, light complexion and short, light-colored hair. He also has a noticeable gap between his front teeth and a protruding mouth, according to the sheriff’s department.

The Hanover County Sheriff’s Office released surveillance photos last week from two robberies last Wednesday over a 25-minute period.

Sergeant Chris R. Whitley with Hanover County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were called to the Sun Trust bank inside the Kroger in the 6300 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike at 2:50 p.m.

Later, deputies responded to the BB&T bank located in the 9100 block of Chamberlayne Road at 3:15 p.m. for another robbery.

Whitley said the suspect passed a teller at both banks a note demanding money. Once the teller handed over an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect took off.

In those robberies, the suspect was wearing a blue baseball hat with round emblem, sunglasses and a  blue long-sleeved button-down shirt with dark-colored pants.

Investigators think suspect was driving a red compact hatchback, also spotted on surveillance cameras. The vehicle was last seen at  Chamberlayne Road and Atlee Station Road.

If you have information that could help investigators, call the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office at 804-365-6140 or the Metro Richmond Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.