'Hashtag String' Bank Robber Suspected in Nine Thefts

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UPPER MARLBORO, MD – An accused serial bank robber who struck four banks in under an hour is linked to at least nine robberies dubbed the “Hashtag String” by detectives for the unique notes he handed bank tellers.

The suspect, Leroy Earl-Morris Daley, 45, of the 8000 block of Allendale Drive in Palmer Park, is charged with five robberies in Prince George’s County reported since September 2015. But he’s a suspect in several more, including three reported in less than half an hour Thursday in Montgomery County.

Investigators say Daley robbed four banks in less than an hour on Thursday, starting with a robbery about 10:45 a.m. in the 8200 block of Annapolis Road in New Carrollton. He then targeted three banks in Chevy Chase and Kensington.

About 2:20 p.m., a Prince George’s County Police robbery unit sergeant leaving a restaurant in Glenarden spotted a Toyota Corolla matching the lookout for the serial bank robber’s car.

“Parked right next to my cruiser was the suspect vehicle,” said Sgt. Craig Winegardner. “But it was.”

Winegardner added that while his car was an unmarked patrol car, other police cars were in the area because officers had just met for lunch.

Daley was wearing the same clothes he’d worn in that morning’s bank robberies, which was captured in surveillance camera video.

Minutes after calling for backup, Prince George’s County detectives had Daley in custody.

Police say Daley will likely be charged with the following five bank robberies in Prince George's County:

• Sept. 25, 2015, in the 7700 block of Landover Road in Landover
• Dec. 21, 2015, in the 10800 block of Baltimore Avenue in Beltsville
• Jan. 9, 2016, in the 10600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Highway in Bowie
• Feb. 23, 2016, in the 8900 block of Apollo Drive in Upper Marlboro
• March 10, 2016, in the 8200 block of Annapolis Road in New Carrollton

In these robberies, the suspect passed notes to the tellers demanding money. Police said those notes used various hashtags, including #nopolice, #becarefull (sic) and #Afterwork?☠.

Anyone with information on the robberis is asked to call police at 301-772-4905.

Callers can remain anonymous by calling CRIME SOLVERS at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). You may also text “PGPD plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) on your cell phone or go to www.pgcrimesolvers.com and submit a tip online.

» Photo of Leroy Earl-Morris Daley courtesy of Prince George’s County Police Department