Police Arrest Armed Bank Robber; ‘BB Gun Believed To Be Weapon’

The Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) Major Crimes Division arrested and charged a Rockville man who they say committed three armed bank robberies.

Noel Omar Lorenzo, 41, of Freeland Road was arrested at his residence just after 11 a.m. on Nov. 4. Police arrested Lorenzo on a criminal warrant, charging him “with three counts of armed robbery and firearm-related offenses.”

MCPD began investigating a string of bank robberies after an incident at the Kensington Capital One Bank. Police say the bank robberies committed by Lorenzo include incidents on:

• September 25, approximately 9:40 a.m., Capital One Bank, 10707 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington. Lorenzo approached teller, passed a note announcing the robbery, and lifted his shirt to reveal a handgun in his waistband. He obtained money and fled.
• October 2, approximately 10:40 a.m., Wells Fargo Bank, 13920 Georgia Avenue, Aspen Hill. Lorenzo approached a teller, passed a note announcing the robbery, and pointed to his waistband. He obtained money and fled.
• October 15, approximately 10:40 a.m., Capital One Bank, 101 Halpine Road, Rockville. Lorenzo approached a teller, passed a note, and pulled a handgun from his bookbag. He obtained money and fled.

Bank robbery suspect arrested: committed 3 bank robberies in Montgomery County and 1 in Fairfax County. Detectives from MCP and @FairfaxCountyPD worked together to identify suspect. News release: https://t.co/VDx21Y4UgD

— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) November 10, 2020

Lorenzo was also wanted by the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) for a different bank robbery in their jurisdiction. The FCPD responded to an MCPD bulletin sent out to the surrounding districts, asking for any information.

Both departments were then able to identify Lorenzo by combining witness descriptions, bank video surveillance footage, and Lorenzo’s modus operandi (MO), which were similar in all the cases.

MCPD officers also obtained a warrant for Lorenzo’s vehicle, where they found evidence from both the Montgomery County robberies and the Fairfax County robberies. They also “located a BB gun believed to be the weapon Lorenzo used in the robberies.”

“Lorenzo was transported to the Central Processing Unit,” police said. He is currently being held without bond, and charges from Fairfax County are currently pending in that jurisdiction.

About Reid Flumbaum

Reid Flumbaum was a senior at the University of Maryland, majoring in Broadcast Journalism during the fall semester of 2020. He loves technology, automotive journalism, and 80s music.

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