Law catches up with bank robber
Source: Agencies |
August 13, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE man dubbed the "Granddad Bandit" by the Federal Bureau Investigation and suspected in 25 bank robberies across 13 US states was captured on Wednesday at his home after a lengthy standoff that ended peacefully, officers said.
Police and FBI agents surrounded the home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Wednesday morning and nearly six hours later walked out with a stocky, balding man with graying hair and glasses, who was surrounded by officers and put into a police car.
The FBI identified him to the public for the first time as 52-year-old Michael Francis Mara and arrested him on a warrant charging him with robbing a bank in Richmond, Virginia. Last week, the FBI began posting pictures of the "Granddad Bandit" on billboards across the United States, saying he was connected to a string of robberies dating back to a 2008 holdup of a SunTrust Bank in downtown Richmond.
The FBI received a tip last week from someone who identified Mara as the robber and gave authorities photographs to match with bank surveillance videos.
A hat, eyeglasses and wristwatch were among the items that appeared to be identical between the photographs and surveillance footage, officials said.
The documents say Mara had worked - and may still work - for a vehicle transportation firm, giving him the ability to easily travel to other states. Earlier this year, Mara rented a rental car for 52 days and logged 15,560 kilometers, the affidavit says. During that time, three robberies in three different states were connected to the "Granddad Bandit."
He is said to have robbed banks all over the eastern and central US, including in Alabama, Texas, Georgia, Arkansas, Kansas, New York, Florida, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri - but not in Louisiana.
In the robberies, the suspect waited patiently in line and handed the teller a note demanding money. Sometimes, he made gestures indicating he had a weapon, although agents said there was no indication he ever actually used one. Once his demands were met, he exited quietly, fleeing on foot.
Police and FBI agents surrounded the home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Wednesday morning and nearly six hours later walked out with a stocky, balding man with graying hair and glasses, who was surrounded by officers and put into a police car.
The FBI identified him to the public for the first time as 52-year-old Michael Francis Mara and arrested him on a warrant charging him with robbing a bank in Richmond, Virginia. Last week, the FBI began posting pictures of the "Granddad Bandit" on billboards across the United States, saying he was connected to a string of robberies dating back to a 2008 holdup of a SunTrust Bank in downtown Richmond.
The FBI received a tip last week from someone who identified Mara as the robber and gave authorities photographs to match with bank surveillance videos.
A hat, eyeglasses and wristwatch were among the items that appeared to be identical between the photographs and surveillance footage, officials said.
The documents say Mara had worked - and may still work - for a vehicle transportation firm, giving him the ability to easily travel to other states. Earlier this year, Mara rented a rental car for 52 days and logged 15,560 kilometers, the affidavit says. During that time, three robberies in three different states were connected to the "Granddad Bandit."
He is said to have robbed banks all over the eastern and central US, including in Alabama, Texas, Georgia, Arkansas, Kansas, New York, Florida, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri - but not in Louisiana.
In the robberies, the suspect waited patiently in line and handed the teller a note demanding money. Sometimes, he made gestures indicating he had a weapon, although agents said there was no indication he ever actually used one. Once his demands were met, he exited quietly, fleeing on foot.
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