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5 bank robberies in Cleveland area on Monday

Posted at 4:01 PM, Feb 13, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-13 16:01:07-05

There have been 20 bank robberies in the past couple weeks with five on Monday alone but the people behind them keeping getting away with it.

The surveillance pictures look like something out of a movie, but they are the real deal. People in dark clothing, masks, most of them carrying large guns robbing banks and getting away with a lot of money.

"If we knew why, we'd stop it, but we don't know why," FBI Special Agent Vicki Anderson told News 5.

In one case, a masked man gave a note to a teller reading "I'm armed. I don't care about my life or yours. Just give me the money."

That's not the only case with disturbing details.

"In one bank robbery they grabbed a manager by her throat and put her on the lobby floor," Anderson said.

She told News 5 several of the robberies may be connected.

"One group is good for two, maybe one today. We have another individual that we believe is good for four of those," she said.

The robberies have been reported in Cleveland, Euclid, Highland Heights, Bedford, Garfield Heights, and Lyndhurst.

She says investigators are confident, but they need the public's help.

"We are asking the public to do a close look at these pictures," Anderson said. 

Tips can be provided to the Cleveland Division of the FBI at 216-522-1400 or the Cleveland Division of Police.  Reward money is available for information leading to the successful identification and prosecution of the individual responsible.  Tips can remain anonymous.