The same man is believed responsible for back-to-back bank robberies on Tax Day, one in Burnsville and the other in Maple Grove, authorities said Friday. The suspect remains at large.
The first rush-hour holdup occurred Tuesday about 4:10 p.m. at a TCF Bank branch in Burnsville at 1400 W. County Road 42. Less than 90 minutes later and nearly 30 miles to the north, the man struck again, this time at a Wells Fargo branch at 6225 Sycamore Lane N. in Maple Grove, police said.
"He made quick time from Burnsville to us; kind of crazy," said Maple Grove police Capt. Keith Terlinden, describing the suspect's vehicle as a black full-sized van. "He was fairly desperate to do two robberies in such a short amount of time."
In the second heist, the man produced a robbery note, and he was given an undisclosed amount of cash, police said. The suspect then ran east toward the Bass Lake Center retail district, but not before his image was captured on bank surveillance video.
The suspect is described as black, in his 40s or 50s, about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, with "5 o'clock shadow" facial hair. He was wearing a light gray hooded sweatshirt, with red or orange inside the hood, jeans and a blue or black ball cap with a "Call of Duty Ghosts" logo on the front.
"The hat is kind of important," Terlinden said. "The pictures are really good. I'm guessing somebody knows who he is."
Anyone with information about these robberies is encouraged to call Minnesota Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
