Update: Arrest Made in Bank Robberies

Lee Bennett Pope III, 37, was taken into custody last night by members of the Raleigh Police Department’s Fugitive Unit with assistance from members of the Durham Police Department. When taken into custody, Pope was in a stationary motor vehicle located at the intersection of Glendale Avenue and W. Lynch Street in Durham. He was arrested on an outstanding probation violation warrant. Upon his arrest, RPD detectives assumed custody of Pope, who was then transported to Raleigh.

Law enforcement officials in other jurisdictions that could have cases related to a recent pattern of bank robberies were notified of the arrest and of Pope’s investigative detention by RPD. He was later transported to the Wake County Jail and was charged with five counts of common law robbery related to bank robbery cases in RPD’s jurisdiction.

Tips from the public stemming from news media coverage of the recent bank robbery cases played an important role in identifying Pope as a potential suspect in the robberies. Follow-up investigative work by detectives and other elements of law enforcement led to determining his location and to the development of the probable cause required to obtain arrest warrants charging him with the robberies mentioned above.

The investigation of the Raleigh cases continues, and anyone with information that might assist detectives is asked to call Raleigh CrimeStoppers at (919) 834-HELP.

Serial Bank Robber Appears to Have Struck Again in Raleigh

The suspect is described as standing about 5 feet 7 inches tall and having a medium-to-heavy build. In addition to the striped shirt and tan cap, which are readily apparent in the photo, he appears to be wearing women’s sunglasses with large lenses.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. today, a black male suspect entered the First Citizens bank at 1200 Ridge Rd. Based upon what detectives have learned thus far in the investigation of the case, they consider it likely that the crime was committed by the suspect who has been responsible for other recent bank robberies in the area.

Anyone with information that might assist the investigation of the case is asked to call Raleigh CrimeStoppers at (919) 834-HELP or the RPD’s Detective Division at (919) 996-3555. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solved cases.

RPD Looking for Serial Bank Robber

RPD is looking for a serial bank robber who has hit several area banks during the past few weeks.  The latest robbery happened at about 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 2 at a SunTrust Bank inside a Kroger store at 7905 Falls of Neuse Road in Raleigh.

The serial bank robber has hit several area banks in the past few weeks.

The same man is suspected of robbing five other banks in Raleigh and Durham. In four of the cases, the robber used a note to demand money.

The suspect is described as a black man in his 30s to 40s, about 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a stocky build and dark complexion. He has a beard and mustache. In Saturday's robbery, he was wearing a dark blue, plaid shirt, blue jeans, white tennis shoes, a black hat with a white or silver logo, and large-framed sunglasses.

In addition to Saturday's robbery, the man is suspected to have committed robberies at:

• SunTrust Bank at 1231 University Drive in Durham on Sept. 24
• SunTrust Bank inside a Harris Teeter, at 1817 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway in Durham on Sept. 25
• Wood Forest bank inside a Walmart at 10500 Glenwood Ave. in Raleigh on Sept. 26
• SunTrust Bank at 3421 N. Roxboro Road in Durham on Sept. 28
• SunTrust bank inside a Kroger store at 8345 Creedmoor Road in Raleigh on Sept. 29

Anyone with information that might assist the investigation of the cases is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (919) 834-HELP. CrimeStoppers pays rewards for tips that help solve cases.