Man uses fake bomb to hold up banks, police say

WASHINGTON — A Takoma Park, Maryland man is charged with three counts of armed robbery after allegedly robbing three banks using a fake, foil-wrapped bomb.

Montgomery County police say DNA evidence left at the scene led to the arrest of Morris Kenneth Thweatt, 46.

During each robbery, police said Thweatt passed a note to a bank teller saying he had a bomb and would show a foil-wrapped device.

The trick worked at two Capitol One branches and a Bank of America earlier this summer.

Police charged him in connection with the following bank robberies:

  • June 10, 2014 — Capital One bank located at 12293 Tech Rd. in Silver Spring
  • July 2, 2014 — Capital One bank located at 115 University Blvd. in Silver Spring
  • July 22, 2014 — Bank of America located at 10151 Colesville Rd. in Silver Spring

Thweatt was arrested at his home July 25, according to a news release.

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