MOUNT VERNON — The person who robbed the First-Knox National Bank branch in Centerburg last Wednesday might be a serial robber, according to the Columbus Office of the FBI. FBI Special Agent Harry Tombitas of the Columbus office said there are several similarities between the Centerburg robber and the one who hit the Park National Bank in Hebron later that afternoon.
“We have different types of bank robberies,” said Tombitas. “The majority are note passers. A much smaller percentage are takeover robberies where the robber comes in with a gun and orders people around — they give some specific commands. That in itself makes it somewhat unique since it is a smaller percentage of robberies.”
Tombitas said the robbery in Centerburg was a takeover type robbery just like the one about 15 minutes later in Hebron. He indicated the description of the Hebron robber was the same as the one who hit Centerburg.
Security photos from both robberies are being exchanged between banks to see if tellers from both banks recognize the robber from the other bank.
Tombitas said both the similarities in the robbers description and the same unusual modus operandi in both robberies make the FBI think this is the work of the same person. There is a good chance, he said, that the robberies were well planned and that more might be on the way.
