Lakewood - FBI seeks robber who targeted 3 area banks

Investigators with the FBI are looking for a pattern bank robber they have tied to three recent bank robberies in Howell and Lakewood, according to information released by the bureau on Wednesday.

Investigators think the same man pulled off bank heists at the Sovereign Bank on Madison Avenue in Lakewood on Sept. 15; the Wachovia Bank on Route 9 in Howell on Sept. 27; and a failed robbery attempt at The Bank on East Kennedy Boulevard in Lakewood on Sept. 20, Special Agent Bryan L. Travers said.
The man matches the description of the bank robber of each of those heists: white, about 5 feet 6 to 7 inches tall, in his mid-20s to early 30s, with a muscular build and light-colored, closely cropped hair. In the two successful bank robberies, the suspect used a note threatening to use a gun, but no weapons were displayed.
In all three robberies, the suspect wore a wig or hat with a bandanna.
Investigators say the suspect appears to have the distinguishing features of a cleft chin, pointed nose bent slightly to the left and a clean-cut appearance.
The FBI offers rewards for information leading to the capture and successful conviction of bank robbers. The subject should be considered armed and dangerous; citizens should not attempt to apprehend this or any other felon, according to officials.
Anyone with information on this or any other bank robbery is asked to call the FBI at 973-792-3000.