Man wanted in pair of North Philadelphia bank robberies

The man who robbed a Bank of America branch in North Philadelphia Tuesday is likely the same man who is wanted in connection with a Friday afternoon robbery at the United Bank of Philadelphia, police said.

The banks are across the street from each other on Broad Street near Oxford. In each case, authorities said the robber slid a threatening demand note to the teller suggesting that he was carrying a gun. And in each case, a tracking device or dye pack was not hidden within the stack of cash, police said.

In both robberies, the man ran off with about $2,000 in cash.

Tuesday's robbery unfolded around 10:30 a.m. The man walked into the bank and slid a note to the teller. The man told the teller to return the demand note or he would shoot, police said. After taking the money the suspect fled the scene on foot.

Cops looked at surveillance footage from multiple cameras near the scene of the first robbery and determined that the same man robbed both banks.

The robber is described as a black man who is between 40 and 50 years old. He is between 5 feet 7 and 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs between 210 and 235 pounds, police said.

He was wearing a blue baseball cap with a white Nike logo on it, chrome, wire-rimmed eyeglasses, a white t-shirt and blue basketball shorts, police said. The department is working with the FBI, Temple University Police and SEPTA police to try tracking the man down.

Tipsters are asked to call the FBI violent crimes task force at 215-418-4000 or the police tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477). Tipsters may also reach the department online.

FBI officials said a reward may be offered for tips leading to the robber's arrest.