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Busy bank robber pulls off another one

The man has robbed seven banks in Pasco and Pinellas since May, the most recent before noon Tuesday in New Port Richey.

He has worn a bandana, a baseball cap and, in one case, a baby blue Gilligan-style hat.

After one robbery, he dropped the money in the bank's parking lot when a red-dye pack exploded. After others, he escaped with undisclosed amounts of cash.

He is wanted in seven bank robberies in Pasco and Pinellas counties during the past few months, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

The most recent was Tuesday at 11:51 a.m., when a man of his description walked into the Bank of America on 4526 U.S. 19 in New Port Richey.

Once again, the man gave the teller a note demanding cash and left with an undisclosed amount of money. No one was injured.

In several of the robberies, the suspect indicated in notes that he had a gun, but tellers did not see one.

The first of the robberies was perhaps May 25, when a man brandished a chrome-plated handgun at the Capital City Bank on Regency Park Boulevard in Port Richey. He ran out with a bag of money but dropped it when a a dye pack exploded as he was crossing the bank's parking lot.

A sheriff's helicopter searched without results, and a search dog combed the woods nearby without picking up a scent. Sheriff's officials say he might have escaped in a getaway car.

A month later on June 23, a man of his description fled the robbery of a New Port Richey bank in a white Pontiac Firebird, the Sheriff's Office reported.

In all, detectives think he might be the culprit in three bank robberies in New Port Richey, one in Port Richey, one in Holiday and two in Clearwater.

He is described as about 23 years old, 5 feet 7 and 120 to 150 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Pete Weekes toll-free at 1-800-854-2862, ext. 7279.

Steve Thompson covers crime in Pasco County. He can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6245, or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6245. His e-mail address is sthompson@sptimes.com