Rehoboth Beach- A multi-agency investigation has led to the arrest of two suspects wanted in connection with multiple bank robberies along the East Coast.
The incident in Delaware occurred on July 23, 2019, at approximately 9:58 a.m., when Troopers were dispatched to the M&T Bank located at 19511 Camelot Drive, for a report of a robbery. Upon arrival, Troopers made contact with an employee who advised that a female suspect had entered the bank and displayed a note demanding money. The employee complied with the demand and turned over an undisclosed amount of cash to the suspect who then fled. No weapon was ever displayed or implied and there were no injuries as a result of the incident.
Through further investigations, it was learned that the same suspect and an accomplice had robbed several other banks along the East Coast. Through investigative measures and in collaborations with the FBI Charlotte, Greenville Police Department, the Ayden Police Department, Hamlet Police Department, Carlisle Police Department, and the Delaware State Police, agents and task force officers identified the suspects as 35-year-old Circe Baez and her accomplice, 38-year-old Alexis B. Morales, both from Harrisburg, PA.
On July 28, 2019, the Charlotte Division of the FBI arrested Baez and Morales. Investigators located Baez and Morales at the Charlotte Speedway Inn & Suites located at 1408 West Sugar Creek Road in Charlotte, North Carolina. Members of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Violent Criminal Apprehension Team took the suspects into custody without incident. They were transported to Pitt County where they went before a local magistrate judge and committed to the Pitt County Detention Center in Greenville, North Carolina.
Baez and Morales are awaiting their extradition back to Delaware where they will both be charged with the following:
Robbery Second Degree
Conspiracy Second Degree
Update
The Federal Bureau of Investigation says the same unidentified suspect is believed to have robbed three banks along the East coast. The first robbery occurred at the Orrstown Bank located at 1 Giant Lane in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on July 20, 2019.
The second robbery occurred on July 23, 2019, at the M&T Bank located at 19511 Camelot Drive, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
The third robbery happened at the Southern Bank located at 236 West 3rd Street in Ayden, North Carolina. In each case, the suspect showed the teller a note that demanded money. She has been dubbed the “Pink Lady Bandit” because in at least two of the robberies she carried a distinctive pink handbag.
The suspect is described as a 5’04” to 5’05” tall and 130 lbs. white or Hispanic woman. In two of the robberies, she wore yoga pants, tank tops, a navy baseball hat, and carried a pink handbag.
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact your local FBI Office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.
Original Story
Rehoboth Beach- The Delaware State Police are investigating a bank robbery that occurred this morning and are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the pictured suspect, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Melissa Jaffe.
Jaffe said the incident occurred on July 23, 2019, at approximately 9:58 a.m., when Troopers were dispatched to the M&T Bank located at 19511 Camelot Drive, for a report of a robbery. Upon arrival, Troopers made contact with an employee who advised that a female suspect had entered the bank and displayed a note demanding money. The employee complied with the demand and turned over an undisclosed amount of cash to the suspect who then fled. No weapon was ever displayed or implied and there were no injuries as a result of the incident.
The suspect depicted in the surveillance image was described as a white female, approximately 5’04” to 5’05” tall and 130 lbs.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Troop 4, Major Crimes Unit, Detective Bluto at 302-752-3864. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware crime stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com