'Serial Bank Robber' Suspect in Custody

Royal Oak Police confirmed the arrest of a man on Wednesday who is suspected in a string of bank robberies in Oakland County over the past several months.

The arrest came during an attempted robbery at TCF Bank at approximately 12:41 p.m. in Royal Oak, which had been robbed twice in March 2012 by a man wearing a mask.

Royal Oak Police Chief Corrigan O'Donohue said he believes the man in custody is the "serial bank robber."

Around 12:41 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a report from an employee at TCF Bank who said a man walked into the bank armed with a handgun and demanded money from the teller.

He received an undisclosed amount of money and ran, according to a press release from police. The suspect matched the description of the suspect from several other area bank robberies.

Officers observed a suspect matching the description leaving the bank and running to a vehicle parked at a nearby business.

Police said the man got into the vehicle and fled from officers, leading police on a pursuit through Berkley, Beverly Hills and Southfield. The pursuit ended on 11 Mile Road west of Greenfield when the suspect vehicle struck a Southfield patrol car.

The man was taken into custody without further incident, police said.

Among the banks targeted in recent months, on and got away with an undisclosed amount of money.

Since December, five other banks in Oakland County have been robbed, including banks in Madison Heights, Berkley and Birmingham. 

The FBI has offered a $2,500 cash reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the robber, who officials say is a suspect in the following robberies:

• Dec. 20: PNC Bank, 28841 John R in Madison Heights
• Dec. 26: PNC Bank, 225 S. Main in Royal Oak
• Jan. 15: Charter One, 200 S. Main St. in Royal Oak
• Jan. 28: Charter One, 27897 Woodward Ave. in Berkley
• Feb. 8: Comerica Bank at 1712 W. Maple in Birmingham

He also may have been involved in the Dec. 18 robbery of the 7-Eleven at 815 W. 11 Mile Road in Madison Heights, the FBI said.

The suspect is described as male between 5-feet 8-inches and 6-feet tall with a medium build, the FBI said. During the Birmingham robbery, he was described as wearing a black winter cap with a small brim, a black coat, black gloves and black shoes with a white sole. The robber also carried a black laptop style bag.