MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - One accused crook is getting major face time on the big screen. Memphis Police are searching for the suspect who robbed the SunTrust Bank on North Germantown Parkway, and now his picture is now splashed on billboards across Shelby County.
Billboards have resulted in tips that locked two of Shelby County's 18 bank robberies already this year. The FBI hopes this guy soon gets added to that list.
"These are not state cases, these cases are prosecuted federally," stated Leonardo Floyd with the FBI. "The people who are captured are sent to federal prison and will serve every day of their sentence in federal prison."
Seven of the 18 banks robbed this year have been on Germantown Parkway. There's speculation the area is targeted because of an easy getaway route, blending in with cars, and easy interstate access. But, the FBI says there's no reason. "We feel it's an individual bank robber's choice to select these banks. That's the only thing we have to go on. We have no specific reason why," said Floyd.
While they won't tell banks where not to build, they do provide special training.
Floyd said they tell banks "what do to in case of a bank robbery, how to respond to situations. But as far as the building or location, we have no input on that."
What they do have input on is how to catch them.
Last year Shelby County had 13 bank robberies, so 18 may seem like a lot. But, it's actually low compared to other cities of similar size. Nashville has had 35 bank robberies already this year.
