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Covington bank robber suspected of ties to Conyers bank robbery, other robberies
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Conyers Wachovia latest hit in bank robbery spree by wigged robbers

FBI suspect the man who robbed the BB&T bank branch on Ga. Highway 278 in Covington today may be connected to the Conyers Wachovia bank branch robbery yesterday and two other robberies in the metro area.

Around 12:50 p.m., a lone black male entered the BB&T Bank, 3110 Ga. Highway 278 NE, Covington, displaying a weapon and loudly announcing a bank robbery.

According to Covington Police Department's Public Information Officer, Lt. Wendell Wagstaff, the suspect was wearing a black running-type suit, sunglasses and a wig - much like the suspect who robbed a Conyers Wachovia Bank yesterday. The man is described as a black male, slender, standing around 6-feet-tall.

The robber immediately vaulted the teller counter while demanding money from the teller. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of money, the robber left the bank without further incident and was observed fleeing the scene in a silver Lexus. The car was recovered in the kudzu off Old Atlanta Highway. It was learned that the vehicle had been reported stolen from Dekalb County the previous day.

Porterdale Elementary, Cousins Middle, Challenge Charter Academy and Troy State University were all placed on lock-down as a precaution while officers searched for the suspect in the woods.

According to Wagstaff, it is possible that there was someone waiting for the robbery suspect in the area. Officers from the CPD, deputies from the Newton County Sheriff's Office, K-9 officers from the city, county and Porterdale and officers from the Porterdale Police Department as well as troopers from the Georgia State Patrol assisted in the search

The robber was described as being a black male, 5'6" -6'0" in height, slender build, 140-180 lbs, late 20's to early 30's in age, wearing dark blue or black clothing, a black Chicago White Sox ball cap, and white gloves. The robber displayed a semi automatic handgun.

The FBI is looking into the possibility that the above robbery is connected with three previous armed robberies within the metro Atlanta area, one of which occurred yesterday in Conyers.