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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 |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The notes passed to the bank tellers were clear, police said. The man on the other side of the counter demanded money, and each message ended with an unusual 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.” |
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 nine robberies in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties stretching to at least September, police said. | |
Four of those robberies came in quick succession Thursday — three within 15 minutes — just hours before his arrest. | Four of those robberies came in quick succession Thursday — three within 15 minutes — just hours before his arrest. |
“Not only do we have an unusual 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 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. | |
Montgomery police offered clear images of the robber and vehicle used in the string to neighboring Prince George’s. | 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. | 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 a 10-minute drive 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, about $18,000 was collected 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. | 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.” |