The third bank robbery in the territory in two weeks has law enforcement officials thinking that the same man is involved.
The Virgin Islands Community Bank in downtown Christiansted was robbed of an undisclosed amount of money at about 10:25 a.m. Friday, St. Croix Deputy Police Chief Novelle Francis said.
Friday’s heist was similar to two on St. Thomas earlier this month, Francis said.
On Friday, police received a call of an activated alarm from the VICB on King Street at about 10:25 and then a subsequent call confirming the robbery, Francis said.
Police responded and were given a description of the suspect by witnesses: a white male, between 5 foot 6 inches and 5 foot 8 inches tall with a slim build and weighing approximately 150 pounds. At the time of the robbery he was wearing a dark colored hat with a military insignia, white T-shirt and cream colored shorts.
Francis said the suspect walked into the bank, stood in line and then approached the next available teller.
"He then placed a plastic bag on top of the counter and handed (the teller) a note indicating he had a gun," Francis said. "He then walked out of the bank and he took off running."
Francis said no weapon was displayed and no injuries were reported.
Friday’s robbery was similar to the ones that occurred on St. Thomas’ waterfront at Chase Manhattan Bank on Dec. 10 and at ScotiaBank on Dec. 13.
The suspect police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are seeking in both of those cases is a white male, 5 feet 6 inches tall. He was wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses, white T-shirt and khaki shorts at the time of the ScotiaBank robbery. The ScotiaBank suspect had a beard; the suspect who robbed Chase Manhattan Bank was clean-shaven and brandished a weapon.
In those robberies the suspect got away with $4,500 from Scotia and $16,000 from Chase.
"The descriptions from the St. Thomas robberies are very similar to this one," Francis said. "And the M.O. is very similar as here."
Francis urged anyone with information to call 911 or the Criminal Investigations Bureau at 778-2211.
