A baseball-capped bandit struck out when he tried to rob a Bank of America on Allegheny Avenue near Jasper Street yesterday afternoon, so he changed clothes and headed to the PNC in Center City's Wills Eye Hospital, police said.
On his second try, cops said, he took off with an undisclosed sum of cash.
The robber, described as a medium-to-stocky white man in his 40s, about 5 feet 8 with salt-and-pepper hair and thin facial hair, was still on the loose last night.
In both incidents, he presented a threatening note to the teller. FBI Special Agent J.J. Klaver said police believe that he had used public transportation between incidents.
During the first robbery, at 12:15 p.m., he wore a white baseball cap, gray or light-colored shirt with blue sleeves, dark cargo shorts and white sneakers. In the second, he wore a red Phillies cap and T-shirt, khaki cargo shorts and white sneakers. Photos from each incident leave no question it was the same man, Klaver said.
Authorities were unsure why he left the first bank without any money.
"Sometimes these guys get nervous and just turn around and leave if they don't get the money fast enough," Klaver said.
Anyone with information about the man's identity is asked to contact police, or the FBI at 215-418-4000.
