Car jacking bank robber on the loose in St. Pete - WFLA-TV Newschannel 8

Friday, St. Petersburg Police investigated a carjacking in which authorities believe the same suspect used the victim's car to commit a bank robbery nearby.

Authorities say, at about 1:45 p.m. Friday afternoon deputies responded to Jo Ann's Fabrics at 2500 66 Street North regarding a reported carjacking.

Deputies say the female victim, who was not injured, reported that she was confronted in the parking lot by a man who produced a handgun and demanded her car.

The man took the victim's car, a 2010 dark gray Toyota Camry 4 door, and drove out of the parking lot and was last seen heading south bound on 66th Street.

Authorities say, approximately 10 minutes later, St. Pete Police received a bank robbery alarm at the Wells Fargo Bank located 3131 66th Street North.  Authorities confirmed that a lone masked man had entered the bank, armed with a handgun, and demanded money from the tellers.  Police recovered the carjacking victim's car a few blocks from the bank abandoned. 

Detectives believe that this is the second bank robbery this suspect has committed.

Authorities say on January 26th, the same suspect robbed the same Wells Fargo branch at about 1:55 p.m.  In that incident the suspect was dressed in a light blue hooded sweatshirt and had his face covered.

There are indications, authorities say, that the bank robbery was proceeded by a carjacking as in this most recent incident, but no vehicle was ever seen in that case.

Authorities described the suspect as a black male, late teens to early twenties, 6'0" to 6'3", 220 lbs, wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and carrying a backpack.

Detectives are asking anyone with information about the robberies or the carjacking to call Detective Reginald Mitchell at 727-893-4204, the police non-emergency line at 727-893-7780 or leave a confidential tip at 727-892-5000.