MADISON (WKOW) -- In addition to several local law enforcement agencies, the FBI is involved in a string of bank robberies in our area. The Wisconsin Bankers Association is also offering a $7,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Authorities believe the robberies started in September of 2011. The suspect has been caught on camera in Madison, Middleton and Janesville.
"His pattern is to enter the bank, to produce a note, suggesting that he might have a weapon, he then obtains funds and leaves the bank in a silver colored Toyota Corolla," said Madison Police Department Spokesman Howard Payne.
Police say the suspect is a slender white male, 5'8'' to 5'10'' tall, who wears a baseball cap and sunglasses. The FBI says he's hit six banks in Madison and Middleton alone. Payne says catching the suspect is a top priority for the Madison Police Department.
"It is important to get him behind bars soon," Rose Oswald Poels says. Oswald is the President and CEO of the Wisconsin Bankers Association. Wednesday, they announced a $7,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.
"Too often, movies glamorize these individuals and they're not, they obviously have a problem, they're a criminal violating the law willing to put the public's safety at risk," Oswald Poels says.
Authorities say the most recent robbery happened on June 8 at the Home Savings Bank on Mineral Point Road in Madison. Apart from Wisconsin, the man is also suspected of robbing banks in Illinois and Iowa.
"There are a number of individuals by way of law enforcement that have had to come together to be able to pool their intelligence," Payne says.
FBI Public Affairs Specialist Leonard Peace says, "In any of these cases it can quickly turn into a dangerous situation so that is why we are asking for the public's help in identifying who this individual could be."
If you have any information about this case, you can contact Madison Area Crimestoppers at 608-266-6014 or the FBI at 414-276-4684.
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MADISON (WKOW) -- The Wisconsin Bankers Association is offering a reward of up to $7,000 leading to the arrest of the person responsible for a string of bank robberies in Madison and Middleton.
Police describe the suspect as a white man with a slender build in his late 20s, approximately 5'10", and wearing a hat and sunglasses.
Police believe the suspect was responsible for the following robberies:
Sept. 19, 2011 at the Associated Bank located at 2400 Allen Blvd., Middleton
May 9, 2012 at the Associated Bank located at 2400 Allen Blvd., Middleton
May 14, 2012 at the Associated Bank located at 1574 West Broadway, Madison
May 19, 2012 at the Anchor Bank located at 2215 Holiday Dr, Janesville.
May 23, 2012 at the M&I bank located at 7801 Mineral Point Rd., Madison
May 26, 2012 at the Fifth Third bank located at 3154 McFarland, Rockford, IL
June 6, 2012 at the Anchor Bank located at 333 S. Westfield Rd., Madison
June 8, 2012 at the Home Savings Bank located at 7701 Mineral Point Rd., Madison
Anyone with information is asked to call Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014 or submit a tip online at TipSubmit.com.
