FBI Seeks Information to Identify Suspect in Series of Armed Robberies
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the North Greenbush Police Department are seeking the public’s help with obtaining identifying information regarding an unknown male (also known as the Dollar Store Grandpa Bandit) who may be involved in an ongoing serial armed robbery investigation. There have been at least nine robberies since December 2016 in a cross-country spree that spreads from New York to Idaho and points in between.
In each incident, the suspect enters the establishment around closing time, displays a weapon, directs employees to remove cash from the registers and store safe, forces employees into the back rooms, and then takes their cell phones to prevent them from calling the police. The employees’ phones are then discarded by the suspect some distance away, usually in a neighboring town.
In addition to displaying a handgun, the suspect has also displayed a stun-gun type weapon and pepper spray. He should be considered armed and dangerous.
The suspect in these cases has been described as a white male, 50-65 years of age, approximately 5’10” to 6’0” tall, weighing about 200 pounds. He has white or light-colored neatly-trimmed hair, worn short, and a mustache.
It is possible the suspect has first-hand knowledge of the operations of Dollar Tree stores, which account for the majority of the robberies. The suspect struck, in succession, Dollar Tree Stores in Wappingers Falls and North Greenbush, New York; Madison Township, Michigan; Manitowoc, Wisconsin; Lincoln, Nebraska (a Dollar General); American Fork, Utah; Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho; Cheyenne, Wyoming; and Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania (a Dollar General). The suspect is believed to be driving a newer model silver or gray Dodge Charger with a rear spoiler and no front license plate.
If you have information that may help identify the suspect please call the FBI’s toll-free tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.
