Law enforcement officials recently apprehended Hines and another man. Both are suspected in half of the 14 bank robberies in the greater Miami Valley since December. Federal and local officials say bank robbers usually get caught, and while investigators typically don’t disclose how much is taken, the federally insured funds from the cash drawers are not big money.
Hines has been indicted in U.S. District Court in Dayton for the Jan. 8-10 bank robberies in Dayton, Harrison Twp. and Beavercreek. Columbus law enforcement officials apprehended Michael J. Hay — a convicted bank robber — in connection with a Grove City robbery. Hay is suspected in eight bank robberies, including those in Huber Heights, Vandalia, Miami Twp. and Mason. Federal charges are anticipated to be filed Thursday.
“We don’t have anyone charged,” Vandalia police Lt. Harry Busse said. “The pictures (of Hay) really look promising as far as the suspect in our bank robbery.”
Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics show bank robberies have declined each year since 2003 when about 7,500 were reported. In 2012 — the most-recent stats available — that number was about half of the 2003 total. FBI officials say most bank robbers are apprehended because of high-quality surveillance and viewer tips.
As to why there’s been a rash of bank robberies locally — 13 of the 14 robberies have been in Montgomery, Greene, Clark, Butler and Warren counties — local officials say drug addiction plays a part.
“Most of my bank robbers are heroin addicts,” said FBI Special Agent Michael Bush, a 25-year veteran. “Ten years ago, they were crack (cocaine) addicts… . And some of them just enjoy the rush (of robbing a bank).”
Another factor behind a year-long spike in bank robberies near Dayton has been the presence of multiple serial robbers, including Michael Bragg, Ronald Corbin and Carl Kieffer. Bragg robbed a West Carrollton bank twice; Corbin hit banks in Harrison Twp., Eaton and Hamilton, and Kieffer robbed a bank in Tipp City.
“It’s really been kind of unusual,” said Bush, adding that he’s seen bank robbery numbers rise and fall without any correlation to the economy. “The time I’ve been here, we’ve never had really more than one — that I can recall in the past 15 years — active, out-of-state serial bank robber in our territory. For whatever reason, this last 12 months, we’ve had four.”
Bank robberies in this area tend to increase in the winter because suspects are able to wear more clothing and hats in an effort to conceal their identifies, Bush said.
The U.S. Bank on Alex Road in West Carrollton and the Chase Bank on National Road in Vandalia each have been hit twice since December. Hensley said West Carrollton police are searching for the white male suspect in his 40s, between 5 feet, 8 inches tall to 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing about 150 pounds who brandished a gun during that robbery. Similarly, Vandalia police are looking for a black male in his 30s, 6 feet tall with a medium build who showed a weapon.
“We’ve tracked down the leads that we have,” Busse said. “They have dwindled and the ones we have, have not panned out so far.”
Ultimately, though, bank robbers usually are brought to justice.
“I’ve been here 35 years and everybody that has robbed a bank in Vandalia has been caught,” Busse said. “You might get away for a while, you might be successful for a while. (But) these are tough to get away with and not get caught.”
Southwest Ohio has dealt with serial bank robbers in the past.
James H. Evans III robbed banks in Oakwood, Miami Twp., Columbus and Springfield in 2010. In 2008, the “granny robber,” 68-year-old Barbara Joly, a former bank teller, robbed four banks in Middletown, Mason, Lebanon and Franklin.
Hines is scheduled to go to trial in March. Vandalia police are accepting tips at (937) 898-5868 and West Carrollton police can be reached at (937) 859-3688 for their unsolved bank robberies.
Said Bush: “We’ve don’t have them … yet.”
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