COVINGTON — A man police say is a serial bank robber robbed his sixth since mid-April on Wednesday, getting away with about $2,000, authorities said.

        Wednesday's holdup of the Firstar Bank branch at 600 Madison Ave. in Covington was the fourth in as many business days attributed to the same robber — described as a white-haired, middle-aged white man with a white mustache and distinctive nose, FBI agents said.

        “He isn't being at all discreet. He's on a spree,” said Doug Warner, a special agent in the FBI's Northern Kentucky office.

Covington Police Officer Kevin Brady (right) talks with Sgt. Spike Jones near the Firstar Bank shortly after it was robbed Wednesday. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        In each case, the man hands a teller a letter saying he has a gun and demands money. No weapon has been shown and there have been no injuries.

        He usually sheds an item of his disguise — which have included head bandages and, Wednesday, a pink bandana — shortly after exiting the bank.

        The robber struck the Firstar just before 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and fled on foot, heading west on Pike Street, Covington Police Lt. Col. Jim Liles said.

        Other robberies linked to the man:

        • Columbia Savings Bank in Clifton, Tuesday.

        • Bank One on West 4th Street in Cincinnati, Monday.

        • Provident Bank in Newport, Saturday.

        • Provident Bank on East 4th Street in Cincinnati, April 23.

        • Firstar Bank on Walnut Street in Cincinnati, April 19.

        “It's getting to the point of being ridiculous,” Agent Warner said. “He's throwing caution to the wind.”

        Authorities would not release the man's total take in the robberies, but the typical heist nets $2,500 to 3,000, said David Welker, supervisory agent in the FBI's Cincinnati office.

        Wednesday's was the 16th bank robbery in Greater Cincinnati this year.

        The Tristate's last serial bank robber, Daniel T. Schwarberg, known as Average Joe because of his ordinary looks, was believed to have committed 17 heists from 1998 to 2000 along Interstate 75 from Kentucky to Ohio. The Verona man pleaded guilty to 11 of the robberies in October and was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison.

        FBI agents say they expect the man to continue the holdups until he is caught.

        “(A) serial robber might lay off five or six weeks before he does his next job, but this is almost a daily occurence now,” Agent Warner said.

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