Two alleged bank robbers have been arrested, claimed a New York Criminal Lawyer. While police and FBI spokespeople have had few public comments yet, the two robbers are believed to be behind other recent bank robberies in a different district this month.
The arrests are part of a joint law enforcement investigation that included officers and agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF), and officers from various state and local police departments. Both bank robberies had similar methods of operation (MO), that included what appeared to be a pipe bomb left at each location, that later proved to be fake.
The suspects are being called the ‘copycat robbers’ as they were copying a robber from another series of bank robberies that had occurred in the area that also used fake bombs while pulling off heists, a Queens Criminal Lawyer was told. The particular bandit the crime duo was mimicking was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison just last month for his crimes.
Agents were able to apprehend the suspects as a result of a tip that alerted the agents and officers to the possible whereabouts of one of the robbers and of his next planned target. As a result of that tip, they were able to find evidence in a dumpster behind a neighborhood house and were able to trace the robber from there. It has also been reported that when agents approached the robber, there was no altercation and one came clean to what his plans and intentions were for his next robbery attempt.
The arrests caused quite the stir in nearby office buildings, as many workers congregated at the nearby windows to catch a glimpse of the activity nearby. Some were citing that as many as six workers were cramped into one office just to see what was going on as the arrests took place.
According to recent statistics, bank robberies have been on the rise over the past few years, and are believed to be related at least in part due to the sluggish economy.
The legal system can be very complicated and daunting. If convicted, you could be facing substantial penalties including prison time, fines, probation, and community service. If you have been charged with a crime, it is important to obtain legal counsel as soon as possible to ensure that your rights are protected.
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