Crime
Convicted bank robber accused of returning to old turf in N.W.
By: Freeman Klopott
Examiner Staff Writer
November 10, 2009
A convicted bank robber is accused of returning to his turf twice in the past two months, ripping off a total of $4,500 from two banks in Northwest Washington.
Lawrence E. Thomas was convicted of robbing the United Bank at 1667 K St. NW, in 1999. Now, the FBI said in court documents, he's accused of robbing one bank across the street from the United Bank and another around the corner.
On Sept. 28 the FBI says Thomas walked into the Presidential Bank at 1660 K St. NW, approached the teller and passed a note demanding $2,800. The teller handed over only $1,500, but Thomas allegedly accepted it and walked out of the bank. On Oct. 20, Thomas entered the Colombo Bank at 1660 L St. and asked an employee about opening a bank account, authorities said. When the employee got closer, Thomas allegedly passed her a demand note. The employee reportedly told the FBI that Thomas said to her she "better do what he said" and claimed he had a gun, court documents said. The employee went behind the teller counter, but two different teller drawers did not have the cash that Thomas had asked for, the FBI said. She then went to the vault and obtained the $3,000 he asked for. Thomas, authorities said, had her fan out the bills on the counter to ensure there was no dye pack. At the same time, he allegedly told two other bank employees to get in the vault and close the door behind them. The two employees did, the other handed Thomas the cash and he walked out of the bank. The FBI showed Thomas' picture to bank employees who identified him as the suspect in the robberies, court documents said.More from Freeman Klopott
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