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| #Arrested: Suspected robber used hashtags to demand money from bank tellers, police said | #Arrested: Suspected robber used hashtags to demand money from bank tellers, police said |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The notes passed to the bank tellers were clear, police said. The man on the other side of the counter demanded money, but each message ended with an usual twist: “#nopolice,” “#becarefull,” or “#Afterwork?” | |
| It was a calling card left at a series of robberies that investigators eventually dubbed the “Hashtag String.” | It was a calling card left at a series of robberies that investigators eventually dubbed the “Hashtag String.” |
| But the chain of bank heists came to a close Thursday, police said, when the man police were looking for unwittingly parked the suspected getaway car next to a detective investigating the case. | But the chain of bank heists came to a close Thursday, police said, when the man police were looking for unwittingly parked the suspected getaway car next to a detective investigating the case. |
| Leroy Earl-Morris Daley, 45, faces charges in a series of nine robberies in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties stretching back to at least September, police said. | Leroy Earl-Morris Daley, 45, faces charges in a series of nine robberies in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties stretching back to at least September, police said. |
| Four of those robberies came in quick succession Thursday — three within 15 minutes — just hours before his arrest. | |
| “Not only do we have an usual end to a string of bank robberies,” said Prince George’s County Police spokeswoman Julie Parker, “this is the first time that we know of that hashtags were used to rob a bank.” | “Not only do we have an usual end to a string of bank robberies,” said Prince George’s County Police spokeswoman Julie Parker, “this is the first time that we know of that hashtags were used to rob a bank.” |
| [4 quick heists, 1 quick arrest — serial bank robbery suspect in custody] | [4 quick heists, 1 quick arrest — serial bank robbery suspect in custody] |
| The day of Daley’s arrest started with a bank robbery in New Carrollton at around 10:45 p.m. Thursday, police said. While Prince George’s Sgt. Craig Winegardner was investigating the robbery at the TD Bank on Annapolis Road, he got a call from his counterparts in Montgomery County. | |
| “They had three bank robberies back-to-back-to-back with similar descriptions,” Winegardner said. | “They had three bank robberies back-to-back-to-back with similar descriptions,” Winegardner said. |
| Montgomery police offered clear images of the robber and vehicle used in the string to neighboring Prince George’s. | |
| A few hours later, as Winegardner stepped out of a restaurant in Glenarden, he noticed something he couldn’t believe. | A few hours later, as Winegardner stepped out of a restaurant in Glenarden, he noticed something he couldn’t believe. |
| “Parked right next to my cruiser was the suspect vehicle,” Winegardner said. “I thought, there’s no way it’s going to be this easy to close this big bank robbery string.” | “Parked right next to my cruiser was the suspect vehicle,” Winegardner said. “I thought, there’s no way it’s going to be this easy to close this big bank robbery string.” |
| Turns out, it was. Everything about the car next to the sergeant’s unmarked cruiser matched the description offered by Montgomery police, down to the make, model and dent on the back bumper, Winegardner said. | |
| Winegardner called for backup. Within 15 minutes, Daley stepped out of a nearby shop to return to the Toyota Corolla, and police apprehended him. | |
| The shopping center where authorities arrested Daley is frequented by law enforcement, with Prince George’s police headquarters located 10 minutes away. | The shopping center where authorities arrested Daley is frequented by law enforcement, with Prince George’s police headquarters located 10 minutes away. |
| “It was a very bold move to come out here in broad daylight,” said Winegardner, a nine-year veteran of the department who was working his fourth day as an investigator in the Criminal Investigations Division. | “It was a very bold move to come out here in broad daylight,” said Winegardner, a nine-year veteran of the department who was working his fourth day as an investigator in the Criminal Investigations Division. |
| Authorities say they have linked Daley to five other robberies in Landover, Beltsville, Bowie, Upper Marlboro and Laurel. All told, the robber collected roughly $18,000 from the heists in Prince George’s County, police said. | |
| It is not immediately clear whether Daley had obtained a lawyer as of Friday afternoon. | |
| Prince George’s County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said the case offers lessons for officers and citizens on being aware of their surroundings and being astute. | Prince George’s County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said the case offers lessons for officers and citizens on being aware of their surroundings and being astute. |
| “Paying attention,” Stawinski said, “pays off.” | “Paying attention,” Stawinski said, “pays off.” |