Cops: Man used smartphone to demand cash from banks

Police are seeking this man in connection with two bank robberies in the Norcross area.

Police are seeking this man in connection with two bank robberies in the Norcross area.

Everyone’s heard about robbers who slip handwritten notes to bank tellers demanding cash.

But a smartphone?

A couple of recent incidents in Gwinnett County have put a new twist on the traditional bank robbery note, according to police.

About 9 a.m. Sept. 23, a man walked into a Wells Fargo branch in the 1600 block of Indian Trail Road in the Norcross area, Gwinnett police Cpl. Deon Washington said Tuesday in a statement.

Surveillance cameras captured him as he showed a bank teller a note written on an app in his smartphone that said, “I have a gun give me your money.”

The teller gave the man $1,000 cash in an envelope, police said.

Soon after, the same man attempted to rob the First Citizens Bank branch in the 1700 block of Indian Trail road in the Norcross area, Washington said.

This time, he had another note: “Give me the money.”

The teller told the man the account was invalid and refused to give him any money, according to police.

That’s when he drove away from the bank in a red car, possibly a Toyota Corolla or Camry, with tinted windows.

Police are looking for the man, who is described as 6 feet tall and 200 pounds. At the time of the robberies, he was wearing a black and blue checkered long-sleeved shirt, slacks and black and white shoes, police said.

Anyone with information about the man's whereabouts is asked to call police at 770-513-5300. Also, tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting crimestoppersatlanta.org.

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